Bulgarian Maritime Administration Halts Search Operations After Drone Strike Incident
The Bulgarian Maritime Administration Executive Agency has officially suspended its search and rescue operations for the missing crew of a vessel that sank following a drone attack approximately 70 nautical miles off the Bulgarian coast, Vice-Admiral Rumen Nikolov announced to Nova TV on Wednesday.
The incident occurred early Tuesday when an unidentified vessel, reportedly en route in the Black Sea, was struck by what Bulgarian authorities have confirmed as a drone. The attack resulted in the vessel taking on water and subsequently sinking.
Vice-Admiral Nikolov stated that all available resources were initially deployed to locate survivors, but after exhaustive efforts spanning multiple hours, no signs of the crew were found. The decision to halt operations was made following a thorough assessment of the search area, including the deployment of aerial drones, surface vessels, and sonar equipment.
Maritime authorities have urged any vessels in the vicinity to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or potential survivors. The incident has raised concerns among the international maritime community regarding the escalating risks posed by drone attacks in critical maritime zones.
Key Details of the Incident:
- Location: Approximately 70 nautical miles off the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
- Time of Incident: Early Tuesday.
- Cause: Confirmed drone strike resulting in vessel sinking.
- Status: Search operations officially suspended after no survivors located.
Further updates will be provided by the Bulgarian Maritime Administration as the investigation into the incident progresses. Seafarers are advised to adhere to heightened security protocols and report any unusual activity in their vicinity.