Cargo Ship Capsizes in Black Sea Amid Suspected Drone Attack
A cargo ship capsized in the Black Sea after a suspected drone attack, leaving three crew members missing.
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A cargo ship capsized in the Black Sea after a suspected drone attack, leaving three crew members missing, according to Romanian authorities. The incident occurred about 13 nautical miles east of the port city of Constanta, reported around 10 a.m. local time. The vessel, flagged under the Comoros, was identified as the Khoryv, which departed Turkey on October 21 and was heading to Romania’s Sulina port.
Rescue Efforts and Casualties
The ship’s crew consisted of 10 Ukrainian citizens and 3 Azerbaijanis. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that border police were informed about a fire on board the commercial vessel, which suffered major damage and capsized, with an imminent risk of sinking. Of the 13 people on board, ten were recovered by another commercial vessel in the area, nine alive and one deceased. Three others are still missing.
Unconfirmed Causes and Ongoing Search
Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the fire, but multiple local media platforms reported that the vessel was struck by a drone. Rescue teams continue search operations to locate and rescue the remaining three crew members. However, the naval authority noted that a helicopter could not be deployed due to unfavorable weather conditions and low visibility.
Drone Attacks Raise Security Concerns
The incident follows a series of drone attacks on at least seven cargo vessels off the Black Sea coasts of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria in October. These attacks have raised fears that Russia’s war in Ukraine is spreading, threatening a global shipping route. The recent attacks have left two people dead and at least 25 still missing.
Recent Drone Incidents in Romania
On Saturday, Romanian pilots on air policing duties shot down two drones in Romania’s territorial waters over the Black Sea, highlighting the growing security concerns in the region. The ongoing drone attacks have intensified scrutiny on the potential involvement of Russia in the conflict, as well as the broader implications for international maritime safety and security.
Source: Breitbart
