Two killed, 11 injured in fire aboard ship off Romania

Two crew members were killed and 11 others injured after a fire broke out aboard a commercial vessel in Romania’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, the Romanian Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Coast Guard teams were alerted to the fire, which occurred outside Romania’s territorial waters, the ministry said in a written statement. The Romanian Naval Authority launched a search-and-rescue operation, with helicopters also taking part.

Two crew members were found dead, while 11 others were taken for medical treatment after the vessel began sinking, according to the statement.

Romanian media reported that the ship was carrying grain from Ukraine to Italy. Some reports said it may have been hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle.