On November 17, 2025, Romanian authorities initiated the evacuation of residents from the border village of Plauru in Tulcea County due to a fire on a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, the "ORINDA," which was reportedly set ablaze by a Russian drone attack near Ukraine's Izmail port. The vessel, carrying 4,000 tons of LPG, caught fire on the Ukrainian side of the Danube River, prompting fears of a potential explosion.

Fifteen residents, along with their animals, were relocated to the nearby village of Ceatalchioi, where local authorities are providing shelter. The Romanian Delta Inspectorate for Emergency Situations conducted a preliminary assessment, leading to the decision to evacuate individuals and animals in the vicinity until the risk to the population is fully mitigated. The County Committee for Emergency Situations has been activated to oversee the response and coordinate emergency measures.

Local officials, including the chief county inspector and the Tulcea prefect, visited the area with fire brigades to assess the situation and provide operational support. A specialized vehicle from the fire service was deployed to evaluate potential hazards, and all intervention forces are prepared to manage the situation and protect both the population and property.

Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and follow local instructions, emphasizing that evacuations will continue until experts confirm the absence of danger from the burning cargo ship. Plauru has previously faced repercussions from the ongoing conflict, including the discovery of Russian drone debris in 2023 and reports of drone activity near the village in early 2025.

This incident underscores the increasing frequency of drone-related incidents in the region, raising alarms about the potential spillover of military actions from Ukraine into neighboring countries. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority confirmed that the attack on Izmail involved drones targeting infrastructure and civilian vessels, with ongoing efforts by Ukrainian emergency services to mitigate the consequences of such attacks. In related developments, Russian forces conducted a drone attack on facilities in Ukraine's Odesa region, prompting air-raid warnings, although no casualties were reported. Romania has also activated its air defense systems in response to the threats posed by Russian drones targeting Ukrainian port infrastructure along the Danube.