Romania searches for 7 missing sailors after drone attack on tanker in Black Sea

Romanian authorities are still searching for seven missing sailors after a drone attack struck a tanker vessel in the Black Sea. The search and rescue operation has continued through the night and into the following day, with vessels and aircraft deployed to scour the water for survivors.

The attack on the tanker

The tanker was hit by a drone while navigating in the Black Sea. The blast caused immediate damage to the vessel, and several crew members fell into the water. While some crew were rescued, seven others remain missing as of Friday. Romania, which borders the Black Sea, dispatched search and rescue teams to the scene.

Growing threat in the Black Sea

The attack is part of a broader pattern of drone strikes on civilian ships in the Black Sea, a major trade route for grain, oil, and other goods from Ukraine and surrounding countries. Bulgaria has separately requested additional NATO systems to counter the drone threat following similar attacks in recent weeks.