Turkish boat disaster kills 24

Fishermen picked up some of the bodies in their boats

At least 24 people, including many children, drowned when two boats sank during a water festival on the Turkish Black Sea coast.

The two rowing boats, part of a flotilla, capsized after a freak change in the weather.

Tearful relatives thronged the quayside

Calm conditions turned to rough sea as a strong northeasterly wind blew up, causing the boats to sink in high waves near the town of Trabzon.

Other ships hurried to the rescue, but many of the victims were children who could not swim.

As well as the fatalities, 15 people were injured and an unknown number of passengers were missing.

"No one knows how many passengers were on the boats and therefore the search is still continuing," said Trabzon regional governor Adil Yazar.

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed his "deep sadness" over the disaster and offered his condolences to the families of the missing passengers.

Survivor's story

One man reached the shore at the small port of Besikduzu.

"It all happened very suddenly," he told local television, shaking and distraught, his clothes soaking.

"A big wave hit the boats and we all found ourselves under the sea."

Relatives wept on the quayside as bodies were brought ashore. There was no sign of the sunken boats, as the search for survivors continued.

The coast around Trabzon, a fishing region, is largely straight, without many sheltered bays, and is prone to sudden storms.