Drone attacks hit 2 merchant ships off Bulgaria, sinking one and killing 2
Two merchant ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea on Oct. 6, sinking one vessel and killing two crew members, according to Bulgarian and Romanian authorities.
The Togo-flagged general cargo ship ALFA WATAN suffered severe structural damage and sank about 80 miles off Bulgaria’s coast, according to Bulgarian news outlet Novinite. Romanian authorities said two crew members were killed and 11 others rescued.
A second vessel, the Palau-flagged general cargo ship ABLE, caught fire after being hit. All 18 crew members abandoned the ship and were rescued by the Bulgarian-flagged passenger ferry DIOSCURIA. Some of those rescued were injured and received first aid aboard the ferry.
Bulgarian and Romanian rescue services, including Romanian Coast Guard vessels and a helicopter, were involved in the operation east of Cape St. Atanas and the town of Byala.
Bulgarian media described the incident as the first reported drone attack on commercial vessels in the country’s Black Sea exclusive economic zone.
Authorities have not identified who launched the drones, and the circumstances of the attack remain under investigation.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev convened an emergency meeting with defense, interior, transport and security officials following the attacks.
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