AN “explosion and fire” had struck a South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial Middle Eastern waterway effectively blocked following US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The foreign ministry said that, at around 8.40pm in Seoul (1140 GMT), “an explosion and fire occurred on a vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company... anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates inside the Strait of Hormuz.”
There had been “no casualties to date” among the 24 crew members on board, who include six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals, the ministry said in a statement.
“The cause of the explosion and fire, as well as the specific extent of the damage, are currently being investigated,” it said.
The vessel involved, the HMM Namu, is a cargo ship of almost 180m sailing under the flag of Panama, data from tracking site MarineTraffic showed.
Seoul’s announcement came after Iranian state media said on Monday that Teheran’s navy had fired “warning shots” in the strait, following the entry of American cruisers into the Gulf under a plan to help trapped commercial vessels leave.
Like many Asian economies, South Korea is highly dependent on fuel imports.
Seoul has sought new sources of oil since the crisis caused the virtual shutdown of the waterway. Last month it said a tanker had made it through safely.
“The government will communicate closely with relevant countries regarding this matter and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Korean vessels and crew members within the Strait of Hormuz,” the foreign ministry said on Monday. — AFP
