• Wion
  • /World
  • /44 crew members rescued from two oil tankers after accident: Iran state media

44 crew members rescued from two oil tankers after accident: Iran state media

44 crew members rescued from two oil tankers after accident: Iran state media

Crude oil tankers

The US Fifth Fleet said on Thursday that its vessels in the Middle East have received distress calls from two tankersin the Gulf of Oman.

"We are aware of the reported attack on tankers in the Gulf of Oman," said a statement from the Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain.

"US naval forces in the region received two separate distress calls at 6:12 am. local time and a second one at 7:00 am," the statement said.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

"US Navy ships are in the area and are rendering assistance," it added.

Meanwhile,Iran's navy rescued 44 crew members from two oil tankers which caught fire after an "accident" in the Sea of Oman on Thursday, official news agency IRNA reported.

"Forty-four sailors from the two foreign oil tankers which had an accident this morning in the Sea of Oman were saved from the water by the (navy) rescue unit of Hormozgan province and transferred to the port of Bandar-e-Jask," IRNA quoted an "informed source" as saying.

"UK and its partners are currently investigating," the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on its website, without giving further details.

Oil prices spiked by about three per cent on Thursday after reports of an "attack" on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman.