Two individuals are currently unaccounted for following the sinking of a Russian freighter carrying a crew of 16 off the Mediterranean coast of Spain, allegedly on a mission to provide supplies to Russian troops in Syria. The remaining 14 crew members of the cargo vessel, Ursa Major, were successfully rescued on Monday evening after the ship was hit by an explosion. This information was reported by the newspaper La Opinión de Murcia and other sources, referencing the Spanish maritime rescue service.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the incident, confirming that the ship went down in the international waters of the Mediterranean following an explosion in the engine room. Reports from Russian media outlets indicated that the 142-meter-long freighter served as a supply ship for Russian military personnel stationed in Syria. According to Spanish media accounts, the explosion took place around midday on Monday between the port city of Águilas in southeastern Spain and Oran, a city in Algeria. The rescue efforts transpired near Cartagena.
Details regarding the cause of the accident were not immediately disclosed. In response, the Red Cross in Spain reportedly activated a team of medical professionals and mental health experts to provide care for the rescued individuals, in addition to arranging emergency accommodations for them.
As a precautionary measure, the Spanish rescue vessel Clara Campoamor and a patrol boat from the Spanish Navy have remained at the site of the incident to offer further assistance if necessary, as well as to monitor the situation for any potential fuel leakage from the 15-year-old freighter.
