Key facts
- A merchant ship caught fire and sank off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea on Thursday evening.
- Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated the ship was likely hit.
- All 12 people on board the vessel were rescued.
- One rescued individual was injured.
- An investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the incident.
A merchant ship caught fire and subsequently sank off the coast of Romania in the Black Sea on Thursday evening. Romanian President Nicusor Dan stated that the vessel was likely hit, though he cautioned against speculation while an investigation is pending. The Romanian Border Police confirmed the fire but did not provide an immediate cause. The incident occurred within Romania's exclusive economic zone, but outside its territorial waters. All 12 individuals on board were rescued, with 10 brought to safety by border guards and one of those injured. The remaining two were rescued by the merchant ship's crew. Shipping and port facilities in the Black Sea have faced repeated attacks since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, with an escalation in attacks observed in 2026.