Two Gambian-flagged oil tankers suffered explosions and caught fire in the Black Sea on Friday evening, prompting Turkish authorities to launch emergency rescues and investigate what they described as “external causes”. The vessels, both under Western sanctions for carrying Russian oil, were struck roughly 30 nautical miles off Turkey’s northern coast.

The first incident involved the empty tanker Kairos, en route to Novorossiysk, which erupted in flames at the bow around 18:00 local time near Kefken in Kocaeli province. Thick black smoke billowed from the ship as Turkish coast guard and rescue vessels evacuated all 25 crew members to safety. Governor Ilhami Aktaş confirmed no injuries and no immediate oil spill.

Approximately 35 nautical miles away, the second tanker Virat reported being “hit” shortly afterwards, with dense smoke detected in its engine room. Rescue teams reached the vessel and safely removed its 20 crew members. Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that “external cause” typically indicates impact from a mine, rocket, drone, or unmanned underwater vehicle.

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Both tankers have been blacklisted by the United States and European Union for violating the post-2022 embargo on Russian crude. Analysts note the incidents occurred in waters where drifting naval mines—originally laid by Russian and Ukrainian forces—continue to pose hazards despite ongoing de-mining efforts by Turkey, Bulgaria, and Romania under a 2024 NATO-backed initiative.

While no pollution has been reported so far, Turkish authorities are monitoring the fires closely and have deployed additional firefighting and containment vessels. The simultaneous strikes have raised fresh concerns about escalating risks to commercial shipping in the Black Sea, even as grain and oil trade corridors remain nominally protected under international agreements.

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