Russian rescue amid deadly blaze on two cargo ships off Crimea [Source: BBC]

At least 11 people have died in a fire involving two Tanzanian-flagged cargo vessels in the Black Sea near the Kerch Strait.

Russian rescuers are trying to reach sailors who jumped overboard.

Fourteen people have so far been rescued.

One ship is a gas tanker, and the fire reportedly followed an explosion, which set the other vessel on fire.

They were named as the Kandy (Venice), with a crew of 17 from Turkey and India, and Maestro, with 14 sailors.

The fire broke out when one vessel was transferring fuel to another,

Russian maritime agency spokesman says this then forced several crew members to jump overboard.