World · India Bureau
Cargo vessel catches fire in Black Sea amid ongoing drone attacks
All 17 crew members aboard the commercial vessel Yara J were safely evacuated after an explosion and fire broke out in Romanian waters near the Ukrainian border. Authorities have ruled out drone involvement and launched an investigation into the blast's origin.
LSN India ·
The cargo ship Yara J experienced a powerful explosion followed by a fire while operating in Romania's maritime zone in the Black Sea, close to waters bordering Ukraine. All members of the 17-person crew were accounted for and safely evacuated from the vessel, according to maritime authorities.
Radar monitoring systems detected no unmanned aerial vehicles approaching the vessel at the time of the incident, making drone strikes unlikely despite the region's ongoing conflict-related security concerns. The area has witnessed multiple attacks on shipping infrastructure in recent months as hostilities continue near the Ukrainian frontier.
The damaged vessel is now being directed toward Constanța port, Romania's primary maritime hub on the Black Sea coast. Investigators will examine the ship at port to determine the precise cause of the explosion and subsequent fire, which remains under investigation. Initial assessments suggest the incident was not related to external aerial threats, though authorities are conducting a thorough examination of all contributing factors.