Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday (Korean time). AFP-Yonhap
A fire that broke out after an explosion aboard a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by Korea's HMM 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 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 Korean government said authorities are working to determine the cause of the explosion and fire.
In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran has taken shots at a Korean cargo ship and other targets as he called on Seoul to participate in a mission to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Korea Times News
