Bulgaria says it is searching for missing crew members after drone attacks struck two commercial vessels in the Black Sea, with one ship reported to have sunk.
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Key facts
- Two commercial vessels were hit in the Black Sea, according to Bulgaria.
- The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank at the scene of the attack, Al Jazeera reports.
- Bulgaria has launched a search operation for missing crew members.
- It is not clear who is behind the attacks, the BBC reports.
- The attacks come as Russia intensifies strikes in the Black Sea amid its war against Ukraine.
Bulgaria has launched a search operation for missing sailors after two commercial vessels were hit in the Black Sea, authorities said. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of shipping in a region where maritime traffic has come under growing pressure.
According to Al Jazeera, the Togo-flagged ship Alfa Watan sank at the scene of the attack. Bulgarian authorities responded by deploying a search operation to locate crew members who remain missing.
Al Jazeera reported that the vessels were hit in a drone attack, with Bulgaria confirming that two commercial ships were struck in its waters. The scale of the damage and the full number of those unaccounted for were not detailed in the available reports.
The BBC reported that it is not clear who is behind the attacks. The incident comes as Russia intensifies strikes in the Black Sea as part of its ongoing war against Ukraine, according to the BBC.
The Black Sea has been a focal point of the conflict, with both military and commercial shipping affected by the wider hostilities in the region. The latest attacks underscore the risks faced by vessels operating in these waters.
As the search operation continues, authorities have not released further details on the identities of the missing crew or the precise circumstances of the strikes.
Why it matters
The Black Sea is a vital route for commercial shipping, including grain and fuel exports, and attacks on civilian vessels threaten both lives and global supply chains. With responsibility unclear and Russian strikes in the region intensifying, the incident highlights the growing dangers to maritime trade during the war in Ukraine.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the ships in the Black Sea?
Two commercial vessels were hit in the Black Sea, according to Bulgaria. Al Jazeera reported that the Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sank at the scene of the attack following a drone strike.
Who is responsible for the attacks?
It is not clear who is behind the attacks, according to the BBC. The incident comes as Russia intensifies strikes in the Black Sea as part of its war against Ukraine.
What is Bulgaria doing in response?
Bulgaria has launched a search operation to locate the missing crew members after the attacks, according to Al Jazeera.
Timeline
- Bulgaria searches for missing crew after drones hit two ships in Black Sea
Al Jazeera: Bulgaria launches search operation after Togo-flagged Alfa Watan sinks at scene of attack.
- Sailors missing after fresh attacks on Black Sea vessels, Bulgaria says
BBC World: It is not clear who is behind the attacks which come as Russia intensifies strikes in the Black Sea as part of its war against Ukraine.