The Turkish-flagged LPG tanker Orinda in Ukraine’s Izmail Port has been burning for 24 hours after a Russian drone strike, prompting evacuations in nearby Romanian villages due to the risk of explosion. All 16 crew members were evacuated unharmed, while firefighting teams continue efforts to contain the blaze.
The attack occurred during the night of 17 November as a large wave of Russian drones targeted Ukrainian Danube ports and Black Sea coastal infrastructure. Ukrainian officials reported that 128 drones and two ballistic missiles were launched across the country.
Orinda, which was offloading liquefied gas at the time, was hit and quickly caught fire. The impact ignited the equipment used for gas transfer. Ukraine’s State Emergency Service deployed multiple units, including robotic systems, to contain the hazardous blaze and monitor the condition of the vessel.
Due to the dangerous cargo and the tanker’s proximity to Romanian territory, authorities in Tulcea County evacuated residents from the nearby villages of Plauru and Ceatalchioi, which lie just across the Danube from Izmail. More than 240 people were removed from the risk zone.
Romanian officials stressed that the evacuation was a precautionary measure. Local authorities on the Ukrainian side reported no need for civilian evacuation, but warned that the risk of explosion persists until the fire aboard Orinda is fully suppressed.
The 2002-built LPG tanker Orinda measures 124.9 meters in length with a gross tonnage of 8,720. It was carrying approximately 4,000 tons of liquefied gas when the fire began.
The drone strike caused wider damage throughout Izmail’s port area. In addition to the Orinda blaze, Russian drones struck a tanker under the Ukrainian flag and a vessel formerly belonging to Russia that is currently under ARMA arrest. The crew of the Ukrainian ship managed to extinguish its fire independently.
Elsewhere in the port area, two pontoon barges and a Palau-flagged tanker were hit. An 18-year-old deck cadet aboard the tanker suffered shrapnel injuries to his face and eyes; he received first aid at the scene.
