Eight crew missing in tanker fire off Romania's coast

What the report says

A search-and-rescue operation is continuing in the Black Sea after the tanker Wine Trader caught fire off Romania’s coast following what Romanian authorities and President Nicușor Dan said was a drone strike. BBC World News reported that eight of the 12 crew members were missing after the San Marino-flagged vessel sent distress reports on Thursday morning while sailing east of the Danube Delta near Sulina. Four crew members were said to be alive, and rescue teams were working in rough seas.

Romania has deployed two Black Hawk helicopters and two rescue boats, with the interior ministry releasing footage of one helicopter over the tanker. Officials said the priority is to reach survivors while keeping rescue workers safe because of high waves. The ship had been travelling from Tunisia to Romania, and nearby crews reportedly described multiple blasts. BBC World News said the vessel was later confirmed by the Romanian president to have been hit by drones.

The incident comes amid a wider rise in attacks on shipping in the western Black Sea, a major route for trade and Ukrainian exports. BBC World News noted that drone activity had also been reported near Snake Island and that similar strikes on merchant vessels off Bulgaria earlier in the week left one ship sunk and 11 people missing. Romania and Bulgaria are due to discuss whether to seek NATO consultations under Article 4, reflecting growing concern about security risks to commercial shipping in the region.