An explosion rattled the port of Constanta on the Black Sea on Thursday, causing significant alarm in the area. According to a statement from Romania’s Defense Ministry, the incident was caused by the self-detonation of an unmanned surface vessel.
💥 Powerful explosion reported near Romania’s Port of Constanța
According to preliminary reports, a naval drone may have exploded in the area.
Authorities have cordoned off the site, and the circumstances of the incident are being investigated. pic.twitter.com/0NWEqKgvu2
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 5, 2026
The Defense Ministry clarified that the maritime drone is of the type used in the war in Ukraine and does not belong to the Romanian military’s arsenal.
There were no casualties as a result of the explosion, according to the same statement, and Romanian authorities are investigating the circumstances under which the incident occurred.
Images and videos of the large explosion at the port of Constanta spread rapidly across social media in the aftermath of the blast.
A maritime drone exploded at the port of Constanța in Romania
Romanian authorities say it is the type used in the war in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/w1wmocDguJ
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) June 5, 2026
Romanian authorities cordoned off the area around the explosion site and launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the incident.
Following the incident, two helicopters conducted an inspection of the port and along the Black Sea coastline, searching for any additional drones, according to a statement by Romanian Deputy Interior Minister Raed Arafat.
“We now know there is a risk of spontaneous ignition. We have evacuated the area in case there are more drones,” Arafat told reporters, adding: “We are not panicking. The measures are purely precautionary.” He stressed that Romanian authorities remain on high alert for any further developments.
It is worth noting that the port of Constanta is of strategic importance to NATO and serves as a key transportation and export hub on the Black Sea. That fact lends added weight to the ongoing investigation, as authorities examine all possibilities regarding the origin of the explosion.
