Ankara - One person was reported dead and more than 20 people were missing after a ferry sunk in the Marmara Sea late Sunday, the Anadolu news agency reported.

Coast Guard vessels were joined by local fishing boats in an attempt to rescue the more 100 people on board the ferry. As of early Monday, 72 people had been rescued or were able swim to shore.

The Hayat-N, a roll-on roll-off ferry that was carrying 73 lorries and two cars, sank just 300 metres after leaving the port of Bandirma, bound for Istanbul. Initial reports suggested that the ferry may have been overloaded or was loaded improperly. (dpa)