A South Korean-operated vessel that had been held under Iranian control in the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after an explosion, Seoul officials said. The government is investigating whether the ship was struck and other circumstances; there have been no reported casualties so far.
According to the Foreign Ministry, at about 8:40 p.m. on the 4th (Korea time), a ship operated by a South Korean carrier and anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates on the inner side of the Strait of Hormuz experienced an explosion and subsequent fire.
The vessel is the NAMU, operated by HMM and Panama-flagged.
The Foreign Ministry said six South Korean crew members and 18 foreign crew members were aboard, and that no injuries have been reported to date.
A Foreign Ministry official said, “We are still determining the cause of the explosion and fire and assessing the full extent of the damage.” The damage is concentrated on the port side of the engine room. The ship is currently holding position at sea.
The official added, “The government will closely coordinate with relevant countries and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our vessels and seafarers inside the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Blue House said it is investigating the cause of the blaze and has confirmed that no Korean crew members were harmed.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social that he would launch “Project Freedom” on the morning of the 4th, Middle East time, to extract vessels trapped in the Strait of Hormuz.
Most Commented