Ankara:A fire broke out on a commercial ship in Romania's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea, resulting in the death of two crew members and injuries to 11 others, as reported by authorities on Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Romania's Interior Ministry stated that Coast Guard teams were alerted to the fire on the vessel, prompting a search-and-rescue operation by the Romanian Naval Authority. Helicopters were also deployed in the operation, which took place outside the country's territorial waters.

The vessel, reportedly carrying grain from Ukraine to Italy, began to sink after the fire, leading to the fatalities and injuries among the crew. Some reports suggested the ship might have been hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle.

Trkiye's Ambassador to Bucharest, Ozgur Kivanc Altan, emphasized the importance of security in the Black Sea and expressed condolences over the incident. He clarified that the ship was not Turkish-flagged, and no Turkish citizens were among the crew, although it was co-owned by a Turkish company. Altan commended Romanian authorities for their effective response and noted the Turkish Embassy and Consulate General's ongoing communication with Romania's General Inspectorate of the Border Police.