Bulgaria mounts search operation after drone strikes sink cargo vessel

Bulgarian rescue services deployed to the Black Sea on Monday following reports that a cargo vessel had been struck by drones and subsequently sunk. The Alfa Watan, registered under the Togo flag, became the latest vessel to be attacked in the strategically significant maritime zone, prompting an immediate search operation for missing crew members.

Details surrounding the attack remained limited, though authorities confirmed that the ship had come under drone fire before ultimately going down. The incident occurred amid escalating tensions affecting commercial shipping routes in the Black Sea, where multiple vessels have faced strikes in recent months.

Bulgarian maritime authorities coordinated the search and rescue effort, working to locate and recover crew members from the stricken vessel. The operation underscores growing concerns among shipping companies operating in the region about the safety of their vessels and personnel in contested waters.

The attack on the Alfa Watan represents a continuation of maritime incidents that have disrupted regional trade and raised international alarm over freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the drone strikes were expected to follow the completion of immediate rescue operations.