Ship Vajd Trejder catches fire off Romania; eight crew reported missing
Rescue teams deployed after a San Marino‑flagged ship reported a morning fire 24 km east of the Danube mouth; investigation ongoing.
A vessel sailing under the flag of San Marino reported a fire at about 07:00 local time on Thursday while located roughly 24 kilometres east of the mouth of the Danube near Sulina, Romanian maritime authorities said. The ship, identified as Vajd Trejder, had 12 people on board; four are accounted for and eight are being treated as missing.
Search-and-rescue operation underway
Romanian rescue teams dispatched a patrol vessel and a helicopter to the area to conduct search and rescue operations. Authorities have not provided details about the condition of the survivors or the exact cause of the blaze.
Separately, a fire was reported on a chemical and oil tanker named Jara J, sailing under the flag of the Comoros. The crew of that tanker managed to extinguish the fire themselves, officials said.
The incident comes amid a recent wave of attacks involving unmanned aerial vehicles along the western Black Sea coast. Romanian officials have so far declined to say whether a drone was responsible for the fire aboard Vajd Trejder.
Defence Minister Radu Miruta said the incident is being treated seriously: "Whether ships were struck by a drone or not, the investigation is ongoing. This is a matter of considerable seriousness, given that such incidents are occurring in Romanian territorial waters."
Search efforts are continuing and the investigation into the cause of the fire remains open.
Photo: press material from the event
