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Search underway for three missing after Black Sea cargo ship fire near Romania

One crew member died and nine were rescued after the Comoros-flagged Khoryv capsized near Constanta; the fire's cause remains unconfirmed.

Updated Oct 23, 2026 · 14:16 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Romanian authorities launched a search and rescue mission after a Comoros-flagged cargo ship caught fire and capsized about 13 nautical miles east of Constanta.[Associated Press]
  • Of 13 people aboard, nine were rescued alive and one was confirmed dead; the crew included 10 Ukrainians and three Azerbaijanis.[Associated Press]
  • Helicopters could not deploy because of weather and low visibility, and the fire's cause is unconfirmed; local media reports of a drone strike remain unverified.[Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Romanian authorities launched a search and rescue operation after the Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv caught fire and capsized about 13 nautical miles east of Constanta.[Associated Press]
  • The ship's 13 crew members included 10 Ukrainian citizens and three Azerbaijani citizens.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • Another commercial vessel recovered 10 people, nine alive and one dead, according to the Romanian ministry.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • Three crew members remain missing, and rescue teams are continuing search operations.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • A rescue helicopter could not be deployed due to unfavorable weather conditions and low visibility.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The naval authority identified the vessel as the Comoros-flagged Khoryv, which MarineTraffic data shows departed Turkey on Oct. 21 bound for Romania's Sulina port.[Associated Press]
  • Romanian President Nicusor Dan said the attack was a new example of the tragic consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.[ABC News]

What remains uncertain

  • The cause of the fire is unconfirmed. Romanian authorities did not say what caused it, while local media reported a drone strike that has not been verified.[Associated Press · ABC News]
  • The status of the three missing crew members is unknown while the search continues.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.