The search for the crew of the Turkish tanker Alfa Watan, which sank off the coast of Bulgaria on Tuesday morning, October 6, has been stopped due to a lack of success in finding them. Bulgarian officials announced that this tanker sank within minutes and are currently investigating the status of the second vessel, Able, which is abandoned in the Black Sea.
Details of the Incident and Crew Status
According to reports, Bulgarian officials, in cooperation with the Romanian Air Force, initiated a search in the Black Sea approximately 70 miles east of Bulgaria's coast. Additionally, another cargo ship named Mercy, flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, was dispatched to the area to assist in the search.
Read more: Rescue of 11 sailors and discovery of two bodies from Turkish ship in the Black Sea
Officials reported that at 02:30 local time, an emergency signal was received from the Alfa Watan distress beacon. During the search operation, an overturned lifeboat, three rockets, and various debris were discovered, but no signs of the crew were found. The exact number of missing crew members has not been determined, but reports suggest that their number is between 10 and 12, and they are likely all from Syria.
Status of the Second Vessel and Officials' Reactions
The second vessel that was attacked, Able, which is owned by Turkey, is still sinking. Roman Nikolov, the director general of the Bulgarian Maritime Administration, announced that this ship sent an emergency signal at 03:30 and the crew was preparing to evacuate the vessel. Nikolov also noted that the ship was damaged at the rear and a large fire had occurred. The captain of this ship suffered a head injury but has been discharged from the hospital, while the chief engineer has suffered severe burns and is being treated in the hospital.
Nikolov also stated that the chance of the Able sinking in the coming hours is 90 percent. Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in Bulgaria announced that these two ships were not on the list of targets of the Russian Ministry of Defense and that there is a need for investigation to identify the source of the drones that attacked these two vessels.
However, Bulgarian maritime officials stated that this ship is outside the direct responsibility of the country and there are no plans for underwater searches. No explanations were provided regarding whether the debris of the drones has been recovered.
In response to these incidents, Iliana Vateva, the President of Bulgaria, convened the National Security Advisory Council to take measures to enhance security in the region. She stated that Bulgaria is cooperating with Romania and Turkey to strengthen safety measures for commercial vessels and has also requested Russia and Ukraine to stop attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea.
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