Bulgaria searches for missing crew after drones hit two ships in Black Sea

What the report says

Bulgaria has launched a search operation after two commercial vessels were struck by drones in the Black Sea, according to Al Jazeera, with the incident taking place about 70 nautical miles off Bulgaria’s coast in the early hours of Tuesday. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev described the attack as a serious breach of international and maritime law and said it occurred in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone.

Al Jazeera reported that one ship, the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan, suffered severe structural damage and sank at the scene. The crew’s status was not immediately clear, and authorities did not say how many people were missing. The second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, caught fire after the strike, but all 18 crew members were evacuated by a Bulgarian ferry and a naval fast boat. Two sailors were seriously injured and taken to hospital in Varna.

The report said officials were monitoring for possible oil spills or other environmental damage. The vessels were said to be commercial ships, with the Able reportedly carrying wheat. The origin of the drones was not confirmed. The attack came amid growing concern over violence affecting Black Sea shipping during the Russia-Ukraine war, which has repeatedly disrupted routes, raised insurance costs and increased risks for civilian vessels.