Two ships have been hit by drones in Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation.
The vessels sent distress signals at around 4am on Tuesday, October 6, in waters approximately 80 nautical miles east of Cape St Athanasius and the town of Byala.
By around 9am, one of the vessels had disappeared from the radar of Bulgaria’s Border Police, according to Bulgarian National Radio correspondent Daniela Stoynova.
Rumen Nikolov, director of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Varna, said the crew of one vessel remains missing, while sailors aboard the second ship have been rescued.
Both vessels have a gross tonnage of approximately 25,000 tonnes.
The ships were identified as ABLE, sailing under the flag of Palau, and ALFA WATAN, sailing under the flag of Togo.
Rescue teams remain in the area searching for the missing crew members.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has also convened a meeting with representatives of state institutions following the drone strikes.
The Bulgarian government said Radev is expected to address the media after the meeting as authorities assess the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.
The circumstances surrounding the drone strikes, including who carried them out and where they originated, have not been established.
