BUCHAREST, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Comoros-flagged commercial tanker was reportedly struck by a drone on Wednesday evening in Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea, causing a fire on board that was later brought under control.
According to local media, no injuries were reported among the crew members, said Adrian Mihalcioiu, chairman of Romania's Free Seafarers' Union.
The vessel, identified as the YARA J, was reportedly hit about 8 to 10 nautical miles southeast of the port of Sulina. It has a 17-member crew consisting of nationals from Syria, India and Iran.
Romania's Minister of National Defense Radu Miruta said checks are being carried out to determine whether the ship was indeed struck by a drone.
The Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea dispatched a rescue vessel to the area after the ship requested assistance. According to Romanian public broadcaster TVR, the vessel had departed from Türkiye and was en route to the Ukrainian port of Izmail to pick up cargo.
