A search and rescue operation is underway in the Black Sea after a cargo ship caught fire off the coast of Romania, leaving one person dead and three missing. Romanian authorities said ten of the 13 crew members were rescued by another commercial vessel, including nine alive and one deceased. The incident occurred about 13 nautical miles east of the port city of Constanta.
The Romanian Naval Authority identified the vessel as the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv. The crew comprised ten Ukrainian and three Azerbaijani nationals. The ship suffered major damage and capsized, with a risk of sinking. Rescue teams are continuing the search for the three missing crew members. Adverse weather and poor visibility have prevented the deployment of a helicopter. The cause of the fire has not been established, although local media reports said the vessel may have been struck by a drone.
The incident comes amid a series of drone attacks on cargo vessels off the Black Sea coasts of Romania and Bulgaria this month. The attacks in the exclusive economic zones of the two NATO members have raised concerns over the potential spread of the Russia-Ukraine war. Romania also reported shooting down two drones over the Black Sea in its territorial waters on Saturday.
