NATO Romania port explosion as drone blasts Constanta Black Sea harbour

A sea drone has exploded in Romania’s largest port on the Black Sea coast, sparking a major evacuation – this is a breaking news story

A sea drone has detonated at Romania’s biggest port on the Black Sea coastline, prompting a massive evacuation. The explosion occurred at Constanta port at approximately 10.30am EEST (8.30am UK time).

Authorities have sealed off the surrounding area as a towering column of smoke billowed skyward. The blast follows a Russian drone crashing into a Romanian apartment building late last month.

The strike in Galați town sparked international outrage, with Sir Keir Starmer condemning the incident as a “serious violation of NATO airspace”.

The green drone, which was reportedly equipped with antennas, was caught by anti-pollution barriers in the water before being found in the courtyard of the Romanian Agency for Human Life Saving at Sea.

The device is described as a marine drone of Ukrainian origin, carrying tens of kilograms of explosives, Stiripesurse reports.

Police officers, gendarmerie and border police were deployed to the scene, where they put security measures in place and began investigations.

Romanian authorities activated the Red Intervention Plan – the highest level of emergency preparedness triggered by the Department for Emergency Situations – at 10.29am EEST (8.29am BST).

“The maritime drone is of the type used in the war in Ukraine,” said the NATO state’s defence ministry.

“The situation is dynamic and we will return with information and official data as they become available.”

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