Filipino Sailor Dies After Ukraine-Bound LPG Tanker Catches Fire In Black Sea

A Filipino sailor injured after a fire broke out aboard the Liberia-flagged LPG tanker Gas Lisbon in the Black Sea has died in hospital, Romanian media reported on Thursday.

The tanker was sailing from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian port of Reni when an explosion and fire occurred about 20 nautical miles southeast of Sfântu Gheorghe, within Romania’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

All 17 crew members were evacuated after the incident.

The sailor, identified by Romanian media as a 45-year-old Filipino national, was one of three crew members taken to Tulcea County Emergency Hospital after the incident. He later died from complications caused by burn injuries.

“He suffered burns to the airways and had a pulmonary complication related to this burn, which caused his death,” hospital director Tudor-Ion Năstăsescu told News.ro.

The other two injured sailors, both Filipino nationals, remain in the hospital’s intensive care unit and are in stable condition.

“They are in a stable condition. They are hospitalised in Intensive Care, but there are no life-threatening issues. They do not require transfer to other medical units,” Năstăsescu said.

Romania’s Department for Emergency Situations said the vessel suffered major damage and a fire in its superstructure. Two of the injured sailors had burns covering about 10-15% of their bodies, while the third suffered multiple injuries.

The Gas Lisbon was carrying more than 3,790 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) when the incident happened.

Romanian President Nicușor Dan said on Tuesday that the vessel had been “struck” late Monday while sailing toward Ukraine and said authorities would determine the circumstances, cause and responsibility for the incident.

No official cause has been confirmed.

However, sources from the Lower Danube River Administration in Galați initially told Digi24 that the ship had been attacked by a naval drone. Crew members also described hearing powerful explosions before the fire broke out.

“When I woke up, I heard those explosions. It was like a bomb, like a missile,” one crew member told TVRInfo.

Several sailors told Romanian media they believed the vessel had been hit by three drones, although those claims have not been confirmed by authorities.

The fire continued burning after the crew was rescued, and the vessel remained too hot to board for inspection as late as Wednesday.

Romania’s acting Defence Minister Radu Miruță said on Wednesday that the incident was another reminder that the country must be prepared for worst-case scenarios.

Military activity continues across the Black Sea following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, both Russian and Ukrainian drones have crossed into or affected Romanian territory on multiple occasions.

In June, a Ukrainian maritime drone exploded at Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanța, while three other sea drones exploded outside the port without causing injuries.

A month earlier, a Russian drone involved in an attack on Ukraine went off course and hit an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people.

The Gas Lisbon was likely struck by multiple Russian drones while sailing toward Ukraine. The Turkish-owned vessel was carrying about 3,800 tonnes of propane.

However, Romanian authorities have not confirmed that account, and the investigation into the cause of the explosion and fire is continuing.

References: abcnews, romaniainsider