Colombo: An Iranian naval warship sank in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka on Wednesday, prompting a major search and rescue operation for more than 100 missing sailors.
The vessel, identified as the Iranian warship Dena, reportedly issued a distress signal while sailing about 40 nautical miles south of Galle. Sri Lanka’s navy and air force quickly launched rescue efforts after receiving the alert.
Sri Lankan authorities said several sailors were pulled from the sea and taken to hospitals for treatment. Reports indicate that about 30 crew members have been rescued so far, while more than 100 others are still missing. Search teams continue to scan the surrounding waters in the hope of finding more survivors.
Early reports suggested that the warship may have been hit in a suspected submarine attack. However, officials in Sri Lanka said they have not yet confirmed the cause of the sinking and investigations are continuing.
The warship had a crew of around 180 sailors when the incident happened. Rescue vessels and aircraft remain deployed in the area as the search operation continues.
The ship, known as Dena, was one of Iran’s modern frigates and had recently participated in international naval events before beginning its return journey through the Indian Ocean.
The incident comes at a time of rising tensions in the Middle East involving Iran and other global powers. Authorities have not confirmed whether the sinking is connected to the wider regional conflict.
Officials said rescue operations will continue until all possible survivors are accounted for, while efforts are also underway to determine exactly what caused the warship to sink.