Omani authorities airlifted 24 Indian sailors from a burning tanker off Oman’s coast, New Delhi officials reported. The Indian embassy in Oman expressed gratitude to Omani forces for rescuing all crew members safely.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways confirmed a fire on the Palau-flagged MT Marivex at around 1:30 p.m. local time. Director Opesh Kumar Sharma stated that all Indian seafarers were safe.
Social media images showed crew being winched from the vessel by helicopter amid thick black smoke. The ship was off Oman’s coast, south of Muscat. Indian authorities did not disclose damage extent or fire cause.
Iran has blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz since February 28 war with the U.S. and Israel. This vital waterway typically handles one-fifth of global oil and LNG shipments in normal times.
New Delhi condemned ongoing conflict, stating it lasted over 100 days and caused significant human suffering and economic impact.