A 45-year-old Filipino sailor who was injured when the Liberian-flagged tanker Gas Lisbon caught fire off Romania has died, hospital officials reported. The vessel, carrying more than 3,790 tons of LPG from Alexandria to Reni, was reportedly "struck" about 20 nautical miles offshore and all 17 crew members were evacuated. Two other Filipino sailors remain in intensive care in stable condition. Romanian authorities are investigating the cause amid crew claims the ship was hit by drones.
Sailor Dies After Ukraine-Bound Tanker Catches Fire Off Romania; Officials Probe Possible Drone Strike
An image released by ISU Tulcea, Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, shows a rescue ship evacuating injured crew members approaching the port in Tulcea, Romania, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after an LPG tanker ship sailing across the Black Sea toward a Ukrainian port caught fire off the coast of Romania last night, an incident Romania's president said was "most likely" related to Russia's war in Ukraine. (ISU Tulcea via AP)(ISU Tulcea via AP)
A sailor who was wounded when the Liberian-flagged tanker Gas Lisbon caught fire off Romania's Black Sea coast has died, Romanian media and hospital officials reported. Authorities are investigating a possible link to the war in Ukraine while continuing inquiries into what caused the blast and blaze aboard the vessel.
What Happened
The incident occurred late Monday roughly 20 nautical miles off Romania. The Gas Lisbon was en route from Alexandria, Egypt, to the Ukrainian Danube port of Reni carrying more than 3,790 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
An image released by ISU Tulcea, Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, shows rescuers and paramedics attending to an injured crew member in Tulcea, Romania, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after an LPG tanker ship sailing across the Black Sea toward a Ukrainian port caught fire off the coast of Romania last night, an incident Romania's president said was "most likely" related to Russia's war in Ukraine. (ISU Tulcea via AP)(ISU Tulcea via AP)
Romanian emergency teams reached the ship, evacuated all 17 crew members and transported three injured sailors to hospital. Two crew members suffered burns covering an estimated 10–15% of their bodies; a third sustained multiple wounds.
Fatality and Medical Details
On Thursday, News.ro and Tulcea County Hospital officials reported that a 45-year-old Philippine national who had been hospitalized died. Tudor-Ion Nastasescu, director of the hospital, said the sailor had sustained airway burns and developed a related pulmonary complication that caused his death. The two other injured Philippine nationals remain in the hospital's intensive care unit and are described as stable.
An image released by ISU Tulcea, Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, shows rescuers and paramedics walking at a docking area in Tulcea, Romania, Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after an LPG tanker ship sailing across the Black Sea toward a Ukrainian port caught fire off the coast of Romania last night, an incident Romania's president said was "most likely" related to Russia's war in Ukraine. (ISU Tulcea via AP)(ISU Tulcea via AP)
Claims, Context and Ongoing Investigation
Romanian President Nicușor Dan said the vessel had been "struck" and that authorities will "clarify the circumstances, causes and responsibilities". Crew members interviewed by Romanian television network Digi24 said they believed the ship had been hit by multiple drones, though no official cause has been confirmed.
The incident comes amid a series of maritime and aerial drone incursions in the Black Sea region linked by various parties to both Russia and Ukraine since the February 2022 invasion. In recent months, maritime drones have exploded at or near the port of Constanta, and an errant Russian drone previously struck an apartment building in eastern Romania, injuring two people.
Next Steps
Romanian authorities and maritime safety agencies are continuing their investigation, collecting evidence aboard the vessel and analyzing physical damage, surveillance and witness statements. No definitive attribution has been announced.
Sources: Romania's Department for Emergency Situations, News.ro, Digi24
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