A Turkish-registered merchant ship sank in the northern Adriatic Sea off the Italian port of Ravenna Sunday following a collision with another vessel in rough seas, local media reported.

Coast guard boats were said to be at the scene and initial reports suggested several crew from the stricken vessel were unaccounted for.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi confirmed on Twitter that there had been an incident off Ravenna involving a Turkish boat and said the government would be shortly issuing an update on the situation.

The accident occurred as Italy was attempting to coordinate the evacuation of hundreds of passengers and crew from a stricken ferry off the Greek island of Corfu, in the south of the Adriatic.

The ferry had been destined for Italian port Ancona when a fire erupted on board.