Romania says seven people missing after fire on San Marino-flagged tanker in Black Sea

Romania said seven people were missing after a fire broke out on a vessel flying the San Marino flag on Thursday morning, the latest incident in the Black Sea, which has seen a series of drone attacks.

The vessel, named the Wine Trader, reported a fire at around 7:00 am (0600 CET), approximately 13 nautical miles southeast of the Romanian city of Sulina, the Romanian Naval Authority said in a press release.

Eight crew were initially reported as missing.

"Five of the sailors on board the Wine Trader have been rescued, a further seven people are still missing," the Naval Authority said in an update.

A search and rescue operation was underway, involving a vessel and a helicopter, it said.

Romanian authorities did not say whether a drone caused the fire.

The VesselFinder tracking website identified the ship as a chemical tanker. It was not immediately clear what cargo it was carrying.

The incident comes after Romania said on Wednesday it was probing a possible fresh drone attack on a tanker off its Black Sea coast.

Rescuers rushed to help the Comoros Islands-flagged Yara J after a fire broke out, but the ship's crew managed to douse the fire themselves.

"Whether it was struck by a drone or not, an investigation is currently underway," defence minister Radu Miruta told the Digi24 television channel.