Hundreds of people were evacuated from the beach at several coastal resorts in Constanța and Tulcea counties as a precautionary measure after a maritime drone exploded on Friday in the Port of Constanța.

At the same time, access routes to the beaches were blocked.

In Constanța County, evacuations took place in resorts including Costinești, Tuzla, and Eforie Nord.

‘As of this hour, the situation regarding those evacuated from the coastal beaches is as follows: 300 people from Costinești Beach, 50 people evacuated from Tuzla Beach, and 355 people from the beaches in Eforie Nord and Sud, 400 people from the beaches in Mangalia—the Saturn Venus strip and Cap Aurora. Access routes to the beaches have been blocked by the Local Police. ‘The evacuations taking place are preventive,’ reported the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.

In Tulcea County, people were evacuated from the beaches in Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe, and the Gura Portiței area.

‘So far, approximately 100 people have been evacuated from the beach in Sulina, approximately 50 people from the beach in Sfântu Gheorghe, and approximately 50 people from the Gura Portiței area. Evacuation efforts in the Sfântu Gheorghe and Gura Portiței areas are ongoing and constantly evolving,” the IGSU added.

The head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat, stated in Constanța that preventive evacuation measures remain in effect in Constanța and Tulcea counties, until the authorities complete their inspections, given that it cannot be ruled out that other drones may still be identified along the entire coastal area.

“Until we search and verify, we cannot be sure whether or not other drones exist. From our perspective, there is a possibility that another drone could be identified anywhere along the coast,” said Arafat.

According to the prefect of Constanța County, Adrian Picoiu, three more drones are still being searched for.

He stated that the blast from the maritime drone destroyed a warehouse in the Port of Constanța and damaged a vessel belonging to the Romanian Agency for the Safety of Human Life at Sea (ARSVOM).

A maritime drone discovered in the Civil Port of Constanța, near the ARSVOM headquarters, self-detonated on Friday around 10:30 a.m., without causing any casualties, the Ministry of National Defense reported.

Source: AGERPRES