Search back on for missing after drone strikes tanker off Romania

Romania resumed a search on Friday for seven sailors missing from a chemical tanker hit by a drone near its Black Sea coast, the latest in a series of attacks highlighting risks to commercial shipping near NATO's eastern flank.

The missing crew were among 12 sailors aboard the San Marino-flagged tanker Wine Trader, which was struck early on Thursday about a mile outside Romanian territorial waters. Five crew members were rescued, but efforts to find the others have been hampered by strong winds and rough seas.

"Our colleagues returned today to search the ship and continue the mission to identify the rest of the crew," an interior ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

Officials said a Black Hawk helicopter would place four rescuers aboard the vessel while a ship continued searching nearby waters.