A significant explosion occurred at the Constanța port in Romania, reportedly triggered by the detonation of a maritime drone. Authorities have declared an alert and activated emergency response measures.
The blast took place near docks 77-78, with local media suggesting that a drone was involved. Following the incident, Romanian officials promptly informed key government figures, including President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister.
In response to the explosion, an emergency alert was issued, and the “Red Intervention Plan” was activated to address the situation. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene.
The Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs announced a press conference to provide updated information on the cause of the explosion and its potential consequences. Initial reports indicate that there were no injuries, but details surrounding the incident are still being clarified.
Raed Arafat, head of Romania’s Emergency Situations Department, confirmed that the drone explosion occurred at 10:28 AM. He noted that around 6:00 AM, the ARSVOM service had reported the possible presence of a drone in the port area. Following this, access to the area was restricted, and authorities isolated the zone. As the threat of an explosion became apparent, nearby residents were evacuated.
In the aftermath of the explosion, the “Red Plan” for response was activated, deploying 80 personnel from the Constanța Emergency Inspection, along with eight fire trucks, an aerial ladder, an intensive care unit vehicle, ten ambulances, two mass casualty response units, a chemical, biological, and radiation protection unit, and four regional ambulances.
Additionally, a SMURD helicopter was dispatched for reconnaissance of the coastal area, along with a Black Hawk helicopter from Tulcea. Both helicopters are surveying the region, as authorities are not ruling out the possibility of other drones being present.
“Given the potential presence of other drones in the area, it was decided to issue RO Alert notifications, which were recently sent to Constanța and Tulcea, advising a one-kilometer evacuation from the coastal zone until we can confirm there is no risk of further explosions or other drones in the vicinity,” Arafat explained.
Arafat emphasized that these measures are precautionary and urged the public to remain calm. He added that the drone, according to the Romanian Ministry of Defense, self-destructed.
In a related incident, on May 29, a Russian drone crashed into a ten-story building in Galați, Romania, during a Russian airstrike on Ukraine, resulting in a fire and injuries to two individuals. The Romanian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the drone was of Russian origin, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the incident as a serious escalation by Russia. Following this, President Nicușor Dan instructed diplomats to prepare measures regarding Romania’s future relations with Moscow, and the Foreign Minister, Oana-Silvia Țoiu, announced that the Russian ambassador had been summoned for discussions.
NATO also reacted, with Secretary General Mark Rutte maintaining communication with Romanian authorities and condemning Russia’s actions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the Russian war against Ukraine had crossed another line. In light of the Galați incident, Romania’s Foreign Minister indicated that the country is considering initiating consultations with NATO allies under Article 4.
The Russian consul general in Constanța was declared persona non grata in Romania following the drone incident in Galați, which resulted in injuries.
On the same day, President Vladimir Putin remarked that it is difficult to determine the origin of any aircraft until an examination is conducted, suggesting that the drone might have been Ukrainian.
President Dan stated that the Russian drone that entered Romanian airspace and struck the residential building in Galați was likely shot down by Ukrainian air defense.
On June 1, an examination confirmed that the drone that hit the building in Galați was indeed a Russian “Geran-2” drone.
An explosion at Constanța port in Romania, linked to a maritime drone, prompted an emergency response. Authorities are investigating the incident while ensuring public safety amid concerns of additional threats.