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Fire on HMM Vessel in Strait of Hormuz Extinguished, No Injuries Reported

A fire that broke out after an explosion on the Panama-flagged bulk carrier HMM Namu, operated by South Korea's HMM Co., in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished. The incident occurred Monday evening while the vessel was anchored off the UAE, with the fire starting in the engine room. All 24 crew members, including six South Koreans, are safe, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with possibilities including external attack or internal malfunction.

Key Points: Fire on HMM Vessel in Strait of Hormuz Extinguished

  • Fire extinguished on HMM-operated vessel in Strait of Hormuz
  • No injuries among 24 crew members
  • Cause under investigation, unclear if external attack or malfunction
  • Vessel to be towed to Dubai
2 min read

South Korea: Fire extinguished on HMM-operated vessel in Strait of Hormuz; no injuries reported

Fire on Panama-flagged bulk carrier HMM Namu in Strait of Hormuz extinguished; no injuries reported. Cause under investigation.

"It remains unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction. - HMM official"

SEOUL, May 5

A fire that broke out after an explosion aboard a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by South Korea's HMM Co. in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished, and no injuries were reported, the company said Tuesday.

The explosion occurred at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korean time), while the HMM Namu was anchored in waters off the United Arab Emirates, HMM said. The fire began in the engine room, and crew members used carbon dioxide to fight the blaze for about four hours.

HMM said security camera footage showed the fire had been put out and said it would later inspect the engine room to assess the damage.

The freighter had 24 crew members on board -- six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals. No one was injured, the company said.

The cause of the explosion and fire, as well as the extent of the damage, is currently under investigation.

"It remains unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction," an HMM official said.

HMM said it plans to tow the freighter to Dubai, a process expected to take several days.

Earlier, the South Korean government said authorities are working to determine the cause of the explosion and fire.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran has taken shots at a South Korean cargo ship and other targets as he called on Seoul to participate in a mission to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Industry officials said South Korean-operated ships in waters off the UAE were moving toward Qatar in line with government measures to steer clear of the Strait of Hormuz for safety, Yonhap news agency reported.

The incident came after the United States launched an operation, called Project Freedom, this week to guide commercial vessels stranded by the US-Israeli war against Iran out of the waterway.

HMM operates five vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including one container ship and two oil tankers.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
Interesting that Trump is blaming Iran without evidence. The HMM official himself says it's unclear if it was an attack or a malfunction. Let's not jump to conclusions and escalate things unnecessarily. Diplomacy first, always.
P
Priya S
As an Indian, I'm worried about our sailors who work on these foreign ships. Many Indian seafarers are stranded or at risk in conflict zones. The government should prioritize their safety and bring them home if needed. 🙏
V
Vikram M
Good that the crew used CO2 to put out the fire - proper training saved lives. But these geopolitical games are putting commercial shipping in danger. India should stay neutral and call for de-escalation. Our energy security depends on that strait being open.
N
Nikhil C
Meanwhile, the US is pushing 'Project Freedom' while also escalating tensions. This double standard is dangerous. South Korea is being pressured to join, but why should anyone get dragged into this US-Israel vs Iran mess? India should avoid such alliances.
T
Tanya I
Sad to see another incident in the Gulf. My uncle is a merchant navy officer and he says they're all on edge. The crew handled this well, but we need international cooperation to ensure safe passage for all ships, not just political games. 😔
S
Siddharth J

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