SOFIA, October 6. /TASS/. Unidentified drones struck two merchant vessels in the Black Sea, causing injuries, maritime. bg reported. A rescue operation is underway some 80 nautical miles from the Bulgarian shores.

The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan suffered severe damage before sinking, and no information about the crew is available.

A fire broke out aboard the Palau-flagged general cargo ship Able following the drone attack. Eighteen crew members, some of them injured, have been taken aboard the Bulgarian ferry Dioscuria, which is participating in the ongoing rescue operation.

Later on Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Rumen Radev will convene an emergency meeting with officials from the Defense and Interior ministries, special services and other ministries and agencies involved.