Black Sea Ship Sinks After Fire, Two Killed As 3 Indians Survive

Three Indian nationals were among the crew members aboard a cargo vessel that caught fire and sank in the Black Sea off the Romanian coast on Monday.

The Indian Embassy in Romania said all three Indian crew members were rescued and are safe. However, one of them sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Romania.

Romanian authorities said 11 crew members were rescued from the vessel, while two people died in the incident. The ship was identified as the MV Royad Mammadov.

The Indian Embassy initially reported that it had received information about an “attack” involving the vessel and that several crew members had been injured. It later confirmed that the three Indian nationals had survived the incident.

Indian Ambassador Manoj Mohapatra also visited the Indian crew members at Constanța County Hospital, where he spoke with them and the hospital’s chief physician. The doctor reportedly confirmed that they were in stable condition and receiving the required medical care.

Cargo Ship Was Carrying Corn From Ukraine

Romania’s Interior Ministry said rescue teams were deployed after the vessel caught fire and began sinking.

The Romanian Naval Authority identified the ship as the Royad Mammadov, which was sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

According to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press, the vessel was transporting corn from Ukraine’s Izmail port to Ravenna in Italy when the incident occurred.

The ship was reportedly within Romania’s exclusive economic zone, about 30 nautical miles south of Sfântu Gheorghe in Tulcea County, when authorities were alerted.

Rescue personnel evacuated members of the crew, while at least one injured person was taken by helicopter to a hospital for treatment. Romanian authorities had not immediately released the nationalities of the two people who died.

Zelenskyy Blames Russian Drones

The precise cause of the fire has not been independently established by Romanian authorities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, claimed that the vessel had been struck by two Russian drones. He described the ship as a civilian vessel carrying corn and said nationals of India and Azerbaijan were among those on board.

Zelenskyy also claimed that the ship’s captain was killed and that 11 crew members were rescued, including one person who was injured.

Those details have not been independently confirmed by Romanian authorities, which have so far confirmed the fire, the rescue operation and two deaths.

Russia had not immediately issued a public response to the allegation.

The incident highlights the continuing risks facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The region has experienced security threats involving military activity, drone incidents and sea mines, raising concerns about the safety of civilian vessels operating along important trade routes.

Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine and is a NATO member, has previously reported security incidents linked to the wider conflict in the Black Sea.

Source: Outlook