Eight more sailors were rushed on Monday evening to the Constanta County Clinical Emergency Hospital (SCJU), following the earlier hospitalization at the same facility of three crew members from the merchant vessel Royad Mammadov after a maritime accident in the Black Sea that claimed two lives.

'Eight additional sailors were brought to the Emergency Department this evening following the maritime accident that occurred today in the Black Sea. They have sustained minor injuries and are currently undergoing medical evaluation. Most likely, once the examinations are complete, they will be able to leave the emergency unit,' stated Crina Kibedi, spokesperson for SCJU Constanta.

Earlier, the hospital representative had reported that three foreign nationals were brought to SCJU Constanta following the accident; all three had sustained polytrauma but were conscious, medically stable, and cooperative.

'A total of 11 sailors were brought to the Emergency Department today. Three of them have been admitted for observation and specialized medical care,' Kibedi noted. Two people were found dead and 11 crew members were rescued after a ship, on which a fire had broken out, sank on Monday in the Black Sea, outside Romania's territorial waters, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) reported.

'Eleven crew members were rescued. Two deceased individuals were also identified,' the release issued by the MAI read.

A helicopter from the General Inspectorate of Aviation airlifted the injured individuals to provide emergency medical assistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blamed Russian drones for the attack on Monday morning targeting a cargo ship in the Black Sea, off the coast of Romania, which resulted in the deaths of two crew members, one of whom was the ship's captain.

The attack was 'carried out by two Russian drones,' the Ukrainian leader stated on social media, adding that the ship, which was in neutral waters, was carrying 'corn and belonged to Turkey.' He noted that Azerbaijani and Indian nationals were on board. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Nona Jalba; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)