One dead, three missing after cargo ship sinks off Romania's Black Sea coast

The Comoros-flagged vessel Khoryv sent a distress signal at around 10 a.m. while approximately 13 nautical miles (24 kilometers) off the port city of Constanța, outside Romanian territorial waters, according to Romania's maritime authorities, as reported by Digi24.

The ship had 13 crew members aboard - 10 Ukrainian nationals and three Azerbaijani nationals.

Romanian authorities said nine sailors were rescued alive, one body was recovered and three crew members remained missing. The nationalities of the dead and missing sailors were not immediately specified.

Romania's Coast Guard said another commercial vessel initially recovered 10 crew members, including the deceased sailor. The nine survivors were subsequently transferred to a Coast Guard vessel.

Romanian rescue ships continued searching for the missing sailors. Bad weather and poor visibility prevented the deployment of a helicopter.

The vessel sustained extensive damage and capsized following a fire on board. A drone strike is suspected, but the cause of the incident has not been conclusively established.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan described the incident as another example of the consequences of Russia's war against Ukraine and part of an escalating threat to Black Sea shipping.

Romanian Foreign Minister Dan Neculăescu condemned the suspected attack as a violation of international law and freedom of navigation, saying Bucharest was working with NATO allies, including Bulgaria and Turkey, to strengthen maritime surveillance.

The incident comes amid growing concern over attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. On October 22, the European Parliament called on EU member states to consider a naval operation in response to attacks on civilian vessels.