An as yet unidentified drone exploded in Bulgaria on Saturday, close to the border with Romania, officials said.
According to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, the drone entered Bulgarian airspace from Romania before exploding 1,000 metres from a compressor station of the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, near the former Kardam border checkpoint between the two countries.
"Noise made by the drone was detected by Romanian border police, and a loud explosion was subsequently heard by the 'General Toshevo' border police patrol," he told a press conference.
He added that the "location of the drone explosion was immediately identified" and confirmed that there were no casualties or damage to buildings or infrastructure.
The prime minister said both Bulgarian and Romanian authorities had failed to pick up the drone as it made its way through their respective airspace. Increased surveillance operations will now be put in place in the region, he added.
