Hopes are fading for finding the missing sailor on the Danube, and the search is turning into a recovery operation, involving the Bulgarian authorities.

Search efforts for the 36-year-old sailor missing on the Danube, in the area of Islaz, Teleorman County, are becoming increasingly difficult. Authorities believe that the man may have drowned during the night, and the rescue operation is turning into a body recovery mission. The incident was reported on January 21, 2026, when the sailor's colleagues noticed his absence from the vessel. The mayor of Islaz confirmed that the sailor fell into the water, and the searches conducted by ISU Teleorman, under unfavorable weather conditions, have yielded poor results.

The search efforts also involve Bulgarian authorities, who are collaborating with Romanian teams. Additionally, the sailor's relatives have arrived in the area to monitor the situation's development. The sailor was from the town of Ostrov, Constanța County, but no further details about him are currently available. The search mission continues, but the chances of recovering the body are estimated to be low.