Rescuers continue to search for survivors of Bulgarian cargo ship Vanessa, which foundered in the Azov Sea early on Thursday.

The search was renewed after the weather improved, the head of Bulgaria's Maritime Administration Nikolay Apostolov said.

Apostolov also reported that the Russian and Ukrainian rescue services placed teams on the shore where safety rafts are expected to appear.

One of the 11 Bulgarian sailors on board Vanessa, mechanic Nikolay Dimitrov, was rescued Thursday and taken to a hospital, while three were confirmed dead and seven are still reported missing by Bulgarian maritime officials.

According to Russian rescue officials, seven crewmembers are already dead.

Vanessa shipwrecked near the Kerch Strait just 22 nautical miles from the Gulf of Kerch. The area is very tricky during the winter season, with several Russian ships sinking there last month during a storm.

Bulgarian authorities have insisted they should take part in the rescue efforts and their representatives are expected to arrive on location on Friday.

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