A vessel caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported Sunday. UKMTO said it received the initial report at 11:00 PM GMT Saturday though the exact time of the strike was not specified.
The maritime authority initially said the crew's status, extent of damage, and any environmental impact remained unknown. In a follow-up update, UKMTO confirmed a fire had broken out aboard the vessel following the attack with local authorities on scene assisting in evacuating the crew.
UKMTO urged vessels transiting the area to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity as investigations continue.
The incident adds to a growing series of attacks on commercial shipping linked to the ongoing US-Iran conflict with several merchant vessels recently targeted across the northern Gulf, Gulf of Oman and waters near Iraq.
Separately, Iranian authorities reported Sunday that one person was killed and three others injured when a commercial vessel was struck near Hengam Island off southern Iran's Qeshm Island an attack Iranian state media attributed to the United States.
The rising frequency of strikes in the region continues to raise concerns over the safety of one of the world's most critical oil shipping routes as tensions between the US and Iran show no signs of easing.
