Burning tanker abandoned in Gulf of Aden as one crew member missing

A Cameroonian-flagged tanker caught fire on Saturday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, leaving at least one mariner missing and another likely still aboard, officials said. The rest of the crew abandoned the vessel.

The cause of the blaze on the Falcon tanker remains unclear. British officials suggested the ship may have been struck by a projectile, while the European Union described the fire as “an accident.” Authorities warned that the fully loaded liquefied petroleum gas tanker could explode, posing further risks to nearby shipping.

The incident occurs amid ongoing attacks on vessels by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea corridor. The group has not immediately claimed responsibility for the Falcon incident, though such claims can take hours or days.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the fire occurred around 210 kilometres east of Aden, stating: “A vessel has been hit by an unknown projectile, resulting in a fire. Authorities are investigating.”

According to the EU’s Operation Aspides, the Falcon’s 26-member crew was mostly Indian, with one Ukrainian. Greek and French naval forces responded, with a Greek frigate nearby and a French aircraft monitoring the scene. The EU said roughly 15% of the ship was on fire and initially indicated it may have been caused by an accident.

The Falcon has previously been linked to Iran’s “ghost fleet,” according to the New York-based group United Against Nuclear Iran, although the ship’s Indian owners could not be reached for comment. The Israeli military confirmed awareness of the strike but denied involvement.

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