The search for a missing Bulgarian fishing vessel carrying three crew members was suspended Tuesday evening as worsening weather and nightfall forced authorities to halt operations off the coast of Sozopol.
Officials said rescue activities would resume at first light, with naval forces, border police and volunteers preparing to rejoin the effort along the storm-battered coastline.
The vessel, identified as VN 8112, disappeared from radar earlier in the day near Maslen Nos, an exposed stretch of shoreline known for rough seas and sudden weather changes.
According to local maritime outlet Maritime.bg, Captain Hristo Spasov and two crew members remain missing after contact with the boat was unexpectedly lost.
Authorities reported that sea conditions deteriorated rapidly throughout the morning, with wave intensity reaching level four and wind gusts nearing 20 meters per second. The water temperature was recorded at just six degrees Celsius, increasing risks for survival.
At approximately 7 p.m., the Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed that search operations had been called off for the night due to safety concerns for rescue crews.
The mission is being coordinated by the Directorate General for Emergency and Rescue Activities, working closely with other state institutions under Bulgaria’s National Search and Rescue Plan at Sea.
The first alert came at 11:10 a.m., when the Coastal Center in Varna notified the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center about the loss of radar contact with the vessel.
A rescue boat from the Maritime Administration Agency was immediately dispatched and patrolled the area. However, worsening winds and heavy swells forced the crew to suspend operations and return to port shortly after midday.
A patrol craft from the Border Police also surveyed the waters but withdrew as conditions became increasingly hazardous.
Officials described the meteorological situation as extremely unfavorable, citing strong turbulence and the threat of icing. These factors prevented support aircraft from the Bulgarian Air Force from joining the search.
By afternoon, military assistance was requested, prompting the Bulgarian Navy to deploy personnel and assets, including the frigate Drazki, to help cover a wider search perimeter.
The deployment was authorized after approval from Chief of Defense Emil Eftimov, with operational orders issued by Navy Commander Kiril Mihaylov.
Despite the reinforcements, crews were forced to stand down at dusk, with visibility dropping and waves intensifying.
Local residents and fishing communities have expressed growing concern for the missing sailors, many of whom are well known in the region’s tight-knit maritime sector.
In response, the Municipality of Sozopol announced a volunteer coastal patrol scheduled for Wednesday morning. Participants will gather outside the municipal building before combing difficult-to-reach stretches of shoreline toward Primorsko.
Organizers say the initiative aims to support official teams by checking coves, rocks and shallow waters where debris or signs of the vessel might surface.
“In this difficult moment, any help is valuable,” municipal officials said, urging residents to show solidarity with the families of the missing crew.
Maritime experts note that winter conditions on the Black Sea can turn treacherous quickly, with cold temperatures and strong gusts complicating both navigation and rescue operations.
As night settles over the coast, hope remains that renewed searches at dawn will bring answers. For now, families, fishermen and rescuers alike wait anxiously for daylight and calmer seas that could allow the search to continue.