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23 Indian crew members safely evacuated after oil tanker catches fire in the Black Sea following a suspected drone attack. (Img: X)
Monrovia: A Liberian-flagged oil tanker carrying Indian crew members caught fire following a suspected Ukrainian drone attack in the Black Sea, according to reports. The vessel was reportedly targeted by unmanned naval drones while operating off Russia's Black Sea coast. The attack triggered a fire aboard the tanker, prompting an emergency evacuation of the crew.
All 23 members of the crew were Indian nationals and were safely evacuated from the vessel, with no casualties reported in the incident. Russian authorities said the tanker came under attack while sailing in the Black Sea. The blaze was reportedly fuelled by crude oil on board the vessel, making it difficult for emergency personnel to approach the ship initially.
Rescue and firefighting teams were subsequently deployed to the area to contain the blaze and prevent further damage to the vessel. The incident took place near Sochi, a major Russian Black Sea resort, and prompted local authorities to impose restrictions in the vicinity as emergency operations continued.
The attack has once again highlighted the growing risks faced by merchant vessels operating in the Black Sea amid the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Commercial shipping routes in the region have increasingly come under threat as military operations and drone strikes have expanded beyond conventional targets.
The presence of a large Indian crew aboard the vessel has also drawn attention to the risks faced by Indian seafarers working on commercial ships operating through conflict-affected waters.
The latest incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Black Sea, where both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of attacks affecting maritime infrastructure and commercial shipping.
The safe evacuation of all 23 Indian crew members averted a potentially serious loss of life. Authorities are continuing to assess the extent of the damage to the tanker and the circumstances surrounding the attack. The incident is expected to renew concerns over the security of merchant shipping and the safety of seafarers navigating waters affected by the ongoing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
