New Delhi officials announced that Indian naval helicopters evacuated 24 sailors from a burning tanker off the coast of Oman on Monday, according to BBC.
India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said a fire broke out at approximately 1:30 p.m. (0800 GMT) aboard the MT Marivex, a Palau-flagged tanker.
The officials did not provide details on the cause of the fire.
“There has been a fire reported on a vessel, MT Marivex, on which there were 24 Indian seafarers… all Indian seafarers are safe,” ministry director Opesh Kumar Sharma told reporters.
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India posted images on social media showing crew being airlifted from the vessel by helicopter, while thick black smoke rose from its bridge and accommodation areas.
Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic noted that the tanker was located off Oman’s coast, south of the capital, Muscat.
Indian officials provided no details on the scale of damage to the ship and did not clarify what may have triggered the blaze.
War in Iran
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, targeting its leadership and triggering a new conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has been responding with a retaliatory counterattack in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, while launching barrages of missiles and drones toward Israel.
The conflict has spread across the Middle East, leaving thousands dead, triggering unprecedented disruptions to energy supplies especially after the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Ongoing Conflict
On Monday, New Delhi’s Foreign Ministry condemned recent violence in an official statement.
“This conflict has now lasted over 100 days and has already caused immense human suffering,” it said.
The ministry also stated that these tensions have a “debilitating” impact on the global economy and disrupted energy supplies.
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India Seeks Safe Return of Stranded Vessels Before New Gulf Sailings
