Egyptian authorities are continuing their investigation into a drone strike that hit two liquefied natural gas vessels at the Mediterranean port of Damietta, raising concerns about the security of critical energy infrastructure.
The incident occurred on Wednesday and marked the first reported drone attack on Egyptian territory since the start of the wider Middle East conflict. Officials have not yet identified who was responsible, and no group has claimed responsibility.
According to Egyptian officials and maritime personnel involved in the emergency response, the attack had the potential to cause significant damage if the resulting fires had spread further.
The vessels involved were the US-owned Energos Winter floating storage and regasification unit and the Greek-owned LNG tanker GasLog Salem. Together, the two ships were carrying approximately 300,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas.
Maritime officers who participated in the response described the situation as highly dangerous because both vessels were located near important port facilities and energy infrastructure.
One officer involved in the firefighting operation said emergency teams focused on preventing the flames from reaching nearby installations and protecting residents in Damietta, a city with more than 300,000 people.
The first explosion was reported aboard the GasLog Salem at around 2:10 p.m. local time. Approximately ten minutes later, a second and larger explosion occurred on the Energos Winter.
Emergency crews quickly launched a large-scale response to contain the fires.
According to maritime officials, the crew of the GasLog Salem immediately shut gas tank valves after the first explosion. This action helped reduce the risk of a larger incident and allowed firefighters to extinguish the blaze on the tanker within about two hours.
The fire aboard the Energos Winter proved more difficult to control. After the crew safely evacuated the vessel, emergency responders continued battling the flames for several hours.
The fire was finally brought under control around 8:00 p.m. local time.
Authorities deployed four firefighting tugboats around each vessel. The ships were separated and moved away from critical infrastructure while crews worked to prevent additional explosions.
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly later confirmed that officials ordered the vessels to be moved because of concerns that a major explosion could threaten the entire port area.
At the time of the incident, responders did not know that a drone strike had caused the explosions.
Maritime personnel reported that they initially received warnings related to pressure systems rather than any external attack. Investigators later recovered fragments believed to be from a drone after the fires had been extinguished.
Officials involved in the investigation say the evidence collected so far suggests that a drone was involved in the attack.
A security official familiar with the investigation described the case as complex and said authorities are continuing to examine recovered debris.
The official added that a significant portion of the drone wreckage has already been found, while search operations remain ongoing for additional fragments.
Investigators are working to determine the drone’s origin, flight path, and launch location. Authorities have not released any preliminary findings regarding possible suspects.
Some officials believe the device may have been relatively small, allowing it to avoid detection by surveillance systems and air defense monitoring in the area.
However, investigators have not publicly confirmed the drone’s size or technical capabilities.
The attack has drawn attention because it occurred amid ongoing regional tensions connected to the broader conflict involving Israel, Iran, and other actors in the Middle East.
Several countries in the region have experienced drone and missile attacks on energy facilities and strategic infrastructure in recent years. However, incidents of this type remain rare inside Egypt.
Egyptian leaders have responded cautiously to the event. Government officials have urged the public and media to avoid speculation while the investigation continues.
Authorities have also emphasized that Egypt remains committed to maintaining stability and avoiding escalation.
Security officials say Egypt will base its response on verified evidence rather than assumptions. They stressed that the country remains capable of protecting its national security and critical infrastructure.
Analysts note that Egypt has often played a diplomatic role in regional conflicts and is expected to continue pursuing a balanced approach despite the attack.
For now, investigators remain focused on identifying those responsible and understanding how the drone reached one of Egypt’s most important energy ports.
The findings of the investigation are expected to play a key role in shaping future security measures for the country’s ports, energy facilities, and maritime operations.
