Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
Maritime security sources said that rescue operations are ongoing for the LPG tanker MV Falcon, which caught fire and drifted in the Gulf of Aden after an explosion on board on October 18.
The sources explained that the Cameroon-flagged vessel was fully loaded at the time of the blast, which occurred at 07:00 GMT while the ship was sailing off the coast of Yemen. The explosion forced 26 crew members to abandon the vessel, while two others remain missing.
Passing commercial ships rescued the remaining crew and transported them safely to Djibouti, according to the sources. The EU Naval Mission (ASPIDES) said a private company is carrying out the salvage operation, and a firefighting vessel was seen near the tanker assisting in efforts to contain the blaze.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, though initial indications suggest it may be related to the ship’s cargo. The tanker was en route from Sohar Port in Oman to Djibouti when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement denied any involvement in the explosion, according to its Saba news agency.
It is worth noting that the Houthis have intensified drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since 2023, claiming the assaults are in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The ASPIDES mission has urged all vessels transiting the area to exercise caution due to the navigational hazards posed by the incident.
