23 Indian Sailors Safe After Black Sea Tanker Fire Near Russia

A maritime emergency off Russia’s southern coast ended without casualties after all 23 Indian personnel aboard the tanker Aframax Rio were brought to safety following a fire on the vessel.

The tanker was operating in the Black Sea when an incident involving an unmanned vessel was followed by the outbreak of fire. The crew members were evacuated safely, and there were no reports of injuries.

The incident also prompted precautionary measures on land. Authorities in the Sirius federal territory restricted public access to local beaches while firefighters and other emergency personnel dealt with the situation.

Sirius administration chief Dmitry Plishkin said the authorities were keeping a close watch on conditions in the area during the response operation. Both atmospheric conditions and water quality were being monitored as a precaution.

The environmental checks did not indicate an immediate danger to residents or visitors, according to the regional administration. Officials said measurements of pollutants in the air remained substantially below the permitted levels.

Meanwhile, firefighting teams continued working on the vessel. As the intensity of the fire fell, officials said the resources available to emergency crews were adequate to deal with the remaining blaze.

The restrictions on the beaches were part of the authorities’ precautionary response while the emergency operation was underway. The Sirius administration continued to assess the local situation before restoring normal access.

The safe evacuation of the Indian crew prevented loss of life in an incident that occurred amid continuing security risks involving unmanned vessels in the Black Sea.