Three Indians missing after vessel attack off Oman, 21 rescued
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New Delhi: India on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack on the commercial vessel 'Settebello' off the coast of Oman, saying that three Indian crew members remain missing while 21 others have been rescued.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that 24 Indian nationals were on board the vessel at the time of the attack.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel 'Settebello' off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and three Indians are reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation,” the MEA said.
The ministry described the continuing attacks on shipping in the region as deeply concerning and linked them to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
“We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and the conclusion of ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region. The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through international waterways in accordance with international law must be restored at the earliest,” the statement added.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Embassy in Oman said it had received information about an incident involving a vessel off the Omani coast and was closely monitoring developments in coordination with local authorities.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and in close touch with the local authorities. We shall update soon,” the Embassy posted on X.
The latest incident comes just days after another maritime emergency involving Indian seafarers in the region. On Monday, all 24 Indian crew members aboard the Palau-flagged vessel 'MT Marivex' were rescued after a fire broke out south of the Strait of Hormuz.
During a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal thanked the Omani government for its swift assistance in that rescue operation.
“The ship 'MT Marivex' was disabled off the coast of Oman. We have learned that it is a Palau-flagged vessel. We also understand there was some exchange of communication between the ship and the US Navy before the incident. There were 24 crew members on board the ship, all of them Indian nationals. All 24 have been rescued, and they are safe. Our Embassy contacted the Omani authorities for evacuation and rescue purposes, and they swung into action,” Jaiswal said.
India had also expressed deep concern on Monday over the renewed escalation in West Asia, stating that the developments were a matter of utmost concern for the international community.
“This conflict has now lasted over 100 days and has already caused immense human suffering. It has also had a debilitating impact on the global economy and energy supplies. We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate tensions, ensure that civilians are not harmed and conclude ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic solution so that peace and stability can return to the region,” the MEA had said.
The government continues to monitor the situation closely as search operations for the three missing Indian crew members remain underway.
With IANS inputs