Drone Attacks Hit Two Ships in Black Sea, One Crew Member Missing

Search Underway After Drone Strikes Hit Ships in Bulgaria’s Black Sea Zone

Tempatdonasi.com – Emergency crews were searching the Black Sea after drone attacks struck two commercial vessels inside Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone, leaving the crew of one ship unaccounted for and injuring two people aboard another.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that contact had not been restored with those aboard the Alfa Watan, a Togo-flagged vessel that suffered major damage before sinking. The ship had been traveling from Egypt toward Romania when it was hit roughly 130 kilometers east of Byala.

The people from the Alfa Watan ship have not been found.

The incident unfolded on Monday night, when both vessels were attacked in the Black Sea. Maritime activity in the area was immediately disrupted as rescue efforts began and authorities assessed the condition of survivors and the damaged ships.

Alfa Watan Crew Still Missing

The Alfa Watan went down after sustaining severe damage. Its crew remains missing, prompting an expanded search involving Bulgarian military aircraft and helicopters.

Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov said a Su-25 aircraft and two helicopters had been assigned to the operation. Their mission is focused on locating possible survivors from the sunken vessel and identifying any signs of life in the waters near the attack site.

A nearby Bulgarian ferry, Dioscuria, responded quickly after the strikes. When it reached the area, however, it found only an overturned boat, a capsized life raft and life jackets. The discovery highlighted the urgency of the search, while offering no immediate confirmation about the fate of the missing crew members.

Searches at sea can be especially difficult when vessels sink far from shore. Crews must cover large areas, and debris, life-saving equipment and small craft can drift away from the original location as conditions change. The deployment of aircraft allows responders to scan a broader section of water while vessels continue work closer to the surface.

Grain Carrier Catches Fire

The second vessel, the Palau-flagged Able, was carrying grain from Romania to Turkey when it came under attack. The ship caught fire and was still burning on Tuesday morning.

Authorities evacuated 18 people from the Able. Those rescued included Turkish and Indian nationals. Two people suffered injuries and were being transported to a military hospital in Varna for treatment.

The evacuation meant that all 18 people identified aboard the Able were removed from immediate danger, even as the vessel remained affected by fire. The condition of the ship and the extent of damage were not detailed during the cabinet meeting.

The Able’s route connected Romania and Turkey, two countries on opposite sides of a heavily used Black Sea maritime corridor. Grain shipments are an important part of commercial traffic in the region, making attacks on merchant vessels a concern not only for crews but also for shipping operators and ports relying on predictable sea routes.

Why the Location Matters

Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone is an offshore area where the country has specific rights over natural resources and certain economic activities. It is different from territorial waters, but an attack on commercial ships within that zone carries serious security implications for vessels traveling near Bulgaria’s coast.

The events also underline the risks faced by civilian crews navigating the Black Sea. Merchant ships often carry international crews and cargoes bound for multiple countries, meaning a single maritime emergency can quickly involve several national authorities, rescue services and shipping interests.

For families awaiting news from the Alfa Watan, the search remains the central concern. Bulgarian authorities have not located the missing people, and the items found by the Dioscuria have intensified efforts to determine whether anyone reached a life raft or another form of shelter after the vessel sank.

Meanwhile, the rescue of the Able’s crew has shifted attention toward medical care for the two injured people and the continuing fire aboard the grain vessel. Authorities are expected to continue assessing the scene as the search for survivors from the Alfa Watan proceeds.