A Thai-flagged cargo vessel, Mayuree Naree, was struck by two projectiles of unknown origin while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, triggering a fire and causing damage to the ship’s engine room, according to reports.
The vessel’s Thailand-listed operator Precious Shipping said three crew members are currently missing and are believed to be trapped inside the engine room following the incident.
“Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room,” the company said in a statement cited by Reuters. The operator added that it is coordinating with relevant authorities to locate and rescue the missing personnel.
According to reports by Agence France-Presse, the ship was sailing toward India at the time of the attack. Vessel tracking platform VesselFinder indicated that the vessel was en route to Kandla Port in the western Indian state of Gujarat.
The Royal Thai Navy released images of the vessel showing smoke billowing from the rear section after the strike. Authorities said the ship had 23 Thai crew members on board at the time of the incident.
Rescue and assessment operations are currently underway as authorities continue to investigate the source of the projectiles and the extent of the damage to the vessel.