Indian Crew Rescued in Strait of Hormuz Strike
Five Indian crew members were rescued in the Strait of Hormuz after a projectile strike hit the Kuwait-flagged crude oil tanker MT Kazimah III. The incident, which occurred on 1 October, triggered a fire on board the vessel as it navigated the high-risk maritime corridor.
Emergency Evacuation and Rescue Operations
The strike took place at approximately 17:50 UTC. The MT Kazimah III, which is owned and operated by the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC), was en route to the port of Lomé, Togo, when the projectile impacted the ship. Following the attack, the Indian Embassy in Muscat immediately coordinated an evacuation effort.
With the vital assistance of Omani authorities, all five Indian nationals were safely transported ashore. While the Indian Embassy confirmed the successful rescue via social media on 2 October, they have not disclosed the identities, ranks, or specific medical status of the crew members.
Conflicting Reports on the Incident
While the fire was confirmed by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the exact nature of the attack remains unverified. Reports regarding the circumstances of the strike have been inconsistent:
- Iranian Media Claims: The state-linked Iranian news agency Fars reported that the ship was traveling "illegally" and was struck approximately 8 kilometers off the Omani coast while carrying 2.5 million barrels of cargo.