A human rights group operating the ship blamed a drone attack for the explosions, which caused a fire on the vessel. The crew was safe and remained on board.

VALLETTA >> A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists was bombed by drones in international waters off Malta early on Friday, its organizers said, alleging that Israel was to blame.

A Gaza-bound activist aid ship caught fire and issued an SOS, after what it claimed was a drone attack off the coast of Malta in international waters in the early hours of Friday.