On the evening of Monday, July 28, tragedy struck in Romania's Danube Delta when a recreational boat carrying 14 passengers capsized amid stormy weather, leading to the deaths of four people, including a child. The incident occurred near the city of Sulina, on the Sulina branch of the Danube River, in Tulcea County, close to the Black Sea.
The Romanian Naval Authority reported that the accident happened under "unfavourable weather conditions," characterized by strong winds and waves reaching heights of up to 2 meters (6.5 feet). The boat, which had departed from Sulina Port heading towards the Musura Gulf, capsized near the wreck site known as "Turgut S." shortly after exiting the Sulina Bar at around 7:30 p.m.
Local authorities had declared the Sulina Barrage impassable since 3:00 p.m. that day due to the deteriorating weather, which made navigation hazardous. Despite this, the boat set out carrying more passengers than permitted; the maximum allowed capacity for pleasure boats in the area is 12 people, yet there were 14 on board. The passengers were tourists who had boarded individually for a leisure trip rather than as a compact group.
Immediately after the accident, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched involving multiple agencies. Crews from the Tulcea Port Authority, the Tulcea Emergency Situations Inspectorate (ISU Tulcea), the Romanian Agency for Saving Human Life at Sea (ARSVOM), the Tulcea County Ambulance Service, and the Tulcea Transport Police were mobilized. Local residents also joined the effort, offering their private boats to assist in the rescue.
Rescue teams managed to recover all 14 people from the water. Of these, six passengers who had been wearing life jackets were able to reach the shore unaided. Unfortunately, four people — three adults and one child — were found in a state of clinical death. Despite resuscitation efforts by medical crews, they could not be saved. Ten survivors were taken to the Sulina Emergency Unit for medical evaluation, with one person remaining under medical supervision. The injured were subsequently transported to the Tulcea County Hospital for further treatment.
The boat’s driver, a military officer, underwent an alcohol test which returned a negative result, and he possessed a valid driver’s license. However, the boat itself reportedly was not authorized for carrying passengers in such a manner, and the captain is now under investigation for manslaughter by the Military Prosecutor’s Office.
Dan Ichim, director of the Tulcea Zonal Captaincy, highlighted the challenges faced during the rescue operation, noting the shallow depths of the area combined with towering waves made the response difficult. He praised the exemplary coordination and promptness of the Coast Guard and other emergency services, emphasizing their rapid arrival and the mobilization of all available vessels to the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the precise circumstances surrounding the tragedy. It remains unclear whether the boat was capsized primarily by the strong winds or the towering waves. The official inquiry aims to clarify these details and to assess compliance with safety regulations.
The victims’ names and nationalities have not been disclosed at this time. Romania’s Danube Delta is a popular tourist destination year-round, especially in summer months, and it is likely that the passengers were visiting tourists.
This heartbreaking event underscores the dangers of navigating the Danube Delta during adverse weather conditions and the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations, including passenger limits and life jacket usage. The tragedy has deeply affected the local community and emergency responders who worked tirelessly through the night to save lives.
As the investigation proceeds, officials are expected to recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future and to enhance the safety protocols for recreational boating in the region.
