Explosion kills three on dredger in Ukraine's Odesa region

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) reports that three people were killed as a result of an explosion on a dredger at the mouth of the Danube River in Ukraine's Odesa region on Wednesday, July 23.

The incident occurred in the late evening (local time) of Wednesday just as the 11-strong crew on the dredger were about to begin executing scheduled works at a facility under the jurisdiction of the USPA's Delta-Pilot branch in the Danube's Bystre estuary.

The USPA also said that some other crewmembers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and are undergoing treatment in hospital.

The estuary has been temporarily closed off to vessel traffic as a precaution. Navigation to and from the affected ports will be through the Sulina Channel for the meantime.

The USPA has assured that an investigation into the incident is underway and that it will extend the necessary assistance to the injured personnel and to the families of the deceased.