Tehran: Iranian emergency services successfully rescued 21 Sri Lankan crew members from a ship that sank in the Gulf of Oman due to severe storms, according to state media reports on Wednesday.
The vessel, flagged under the Cook Islands, was carrying oil and went down approximately 50 kilometres (30 miles) off the southern city of Jask, as reported by the official IRNA news agency.
Mohammad Amin Amani, director of Jask Ports and Maritime Administration, confirmed the rescue operation, stating, "A rescue vessel was dispatched to the area and 21 crew were saved." He also mentioned that "Five people who needed medical attention" were treated by Jask emergency services, adding that "the physical condition of these sailors is good."
The incident occurred amid intense rainfall affecting the region, with the Strait of Hormuz, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates experiencing torrential rains since Monday. This weather has resulted in floods that claimed at least 18 lives in Oman alone, reported AFP.