Explosion of a Drone Felt Throughout Constanța Municipality
Authorities have evacuated the area near the Port of Constanța as a precautionary measure and have activated the Red Intervention Plan following an explosion that occurred on Friday in the port area. Adrian Teodor Picoiu, the prefect of Constanța County, announced this during an interview on Digi24, highlighting the seriousness of the incident.
According to the prefect, there have been no reported casualties as a result of the explosion. „We have activated the Red Intervention Plan. There are no victims,” he stated, reassuring the public regarding the situation’s management.
In addition to the evacuation, authorities have issued a RO-Alert message urging residents in the vicinity of the affected area to leave. „A RO-Alert message has been sent for evacuation in the coastal zone within one kilometer around the port,” the prefect explained.
Helicopters Checking the Area
Picoiu detailed that the evacuation measures were implemented to allow for thorough inspections of the area and to eliminate any further risks. This operation is expected to last a few hours and will include aerial examinations conducted by a Black Hawk helicopter from Tulcea, as well as a SMURD helicopter from Constanța.
“I don’t believe I have this information,” said Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, regarding the drone explosion in Constanța, reflecting the confusion surrounding the event. Ionuț Bolojan also responded to the incident, describing it as a dangerous situation for the safety of Romanian citizens.
Inspection Operations to Determine Further Risks
The prefect confirmed ongoing inspections to determine whether additional maritime drones or similar devices are present around the Port of Constanța. He advised the public to heed the instructions from local authorities and refrain from entering the area until operations are completed, emphasizing the need for caution.
„For now, the public should listen to authorities and the messages from the authorities. They should evacuate quietly,” Picoiu urged, indicating a need for cooperation in this urgent matter.
Damage Assessment Following the Explosion
As a result of the explosion, material damages have been reported, affecting a warehouse and a vessel in the port area. Picoiu described the explosion as powerful, stating that it was felt throughout the entire municipality of Constanța, which indicates the severity of the incident and the potential danger it posed to residents.
Despite the alarming circumstances, the situation remains under control, with emergency response teams and investigators continuing their work in the evacuated zone. „The situation at this moment is under control,” affirmed the prefect.
Further Investigations Uncover Multiple Drones Involved
According to information disclosed by the prefect to G4Media, local authorities were notified by Ukrainian counterparts that five drones were observed in the area. Of these, one drone exploded in the Port of Constanța, another was reported to have gone down on Ukrainian territory, and three drones are currently being searched for to prevent additional incidents.
„The information we received from the Ukrainian side confirms the presence of five drones. One exploded in the Port of Constanța, while another fell on the Ukrainian side, and the remaining three are under search operations to avert further issues,” Picoiu reported, underlining the ongoing concerns surrounding the airspace security.
In light of this troubling event, authorities are taking all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the public while conducting thorough investigations into the circumstances that led to the explosion.