Seoul: A fire broke out Monday on a Panama-flagged vessel operated by a major South Korean shipping company and stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministry said. An explosion followed by a fire occurred on the vessel operated by HMM Co. at around 8:40 p.m. while it was anchored in waters near the United Arab Emirates within the strait, the ministry reported.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the vessel had 24 crew members on board, comprising six South Korean and 18 foreign nationals. There have been no casualties reported so far, and the cause of the explosion and fire, as well as the extent of the damage, is currently under investigation.
The South Korean government has stated that it will maintain close communication with relevant countries regarding the incident and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of South Korean vessels and crew members in the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier statements from the ministry indicated that they were verifying information that the South Korean vessel stranded in the waterway may have come under attack.
The shipping company, HMM Co., reported that a fire broke out in the engine room following an explosion on the bulk carrier. Crew members are actively working to extinguish the blaze. A company official mentioned that it is too early to determine whether the incident was caused by an external attack.
A Cheong Wa Dae official confirmed that authorities are working to determine the cause of the fire and assured that no casualties have been reported. The official noted that no National Security Council (NSC) meeting has been convened so far in connection with the incident, with the foreign and oceans ministries handling the situation. Approximately 2,000 vessels, including 26 South Korean-flagged ships, remain stranded in the strait.