Muscat:A cargo ship travelling to India caught fire after being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel before being rescued by the Oman navy.
The ship, identified as the Thai flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, was sailing toward Kandla port in Gujarat when it was hit by projectiles while passing through the busy shipping route in the Gulf.
The attack caused an explosion near the rear section of the vessel and started a fire in the engine area. Thick smoke was seen rising from the ship as flames spread on board.
According to officials, the crew quickly moved to lifeboats after the attack. Twenty crew members were rescued by the Royal Navy of Oman and brought safely to shore. However, three crew members are still missing and search operations are continuing.
Reports said the missing crew members were believed to be working in the engine room when the explosion occurred.
Authorities are investigating the incident as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East. The attack came at a time when several commercial ships have been targeted in or near the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing regional conflict.
Security agencies also reported that other vessels in the area were struck by projectiles on the same day, raising concerns about the safety of international shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important maritime passages in the world, with a large share of global oil and gas shipments passing through the narrow waterway every day. Any disruption in the region can quickly affect global trade and energy markets.
Officials are continuing efforts to determine who carried out the attack while rescue teams search for the missing crew members and monitor the damaged vessel.