A ship has sunk off the Bulgarian coast in the Black Sea after a drone attack, with a large-scale search and rescue operation still underway for missing crew members.
The incident occurred 80 miles off the Bulgarian coast. Two vessels were hit by drones, and one of them sank. The ships sent distress signals at around 4am local time (2am BST), and one vessel disappeared from the radar of the border police at around 9am local time.
Rescue operation and casualties
A total of 18 sailors on the second vessel were rescued, with two of them seriously injured. The remaining 16 crew members are reportedly in good condition. The origin of the drones has not yet been established.
This is reportedly the first attack on shipping in the NATO member country's economic area. In an update delivered this morning, Bulgarian prime minister Rumen Radev said no survivors have yet been found from the sunk ship.
Ongoing search
The search and rescue operation continues for the missing crew. The incident marks a significant escalation in the region, though details about the attackers remain unclear.
