The Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker Arctic Metagaz caught fire on Tuesday in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Malta. The incident, characterized by a large-scale blaze, occurred while the vessel was transporting LNG cargo.
According to vessel tracking data, the tanker was positioned in Maltese waters on Monday before communication was lost. The Arctic Metagaz is currently under sanctions by both the United States and the United Kingdom, measures linked to its alleged role in transporting Russian fuel in defiance of international restrictions.
The status of the crew remains unknown at this time. Maritime security sources are investigating several potential causes for the incident, including the possibility of a sea drone attack, though no direct evidence has yet been produced to confirm any specific theory.