A ship caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Qatar, reported news agency AP, citing the British Military. The United Kingdom’s
Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it has received a report of an incident 23 nautical miles northeast of the Qatari capital, Doha. It said the bulk carrier had reported being struck by an “unknown projectile” and that a small fire had been extinguished. There were no casualties from the incident, and the UKMTO reported no environmental impact. The reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. Notably, the incident has been reported amid increasing hostilities between Iran and the US in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. Earlier, a wooden dhow carrying general cargo with 18 Indian crew members reportedly caught fire and capsized near the Strait of Hormuz. All crew members were rescued by a passing vessel, but one Indian national died in the incident while four others sustained burn injuries. The exact cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained. "A wooden Dhow, carrying general cargo, with 18 Indian crew capsized yesterday close to the Strait of Hormuz after it caught fire. The exact cause of the fire is being ascertained. The crew members were rescued by a vessel which was passing by. In this incident, one Indian on the dhow died while four received burn injuries," reported news agency ANI, quoting a Government of India source. "The injured are receiving medical treatment in Dubai and are safe. Our officials from the Indian Consulate met the rescued Indian nationals yesterday night itself. The consulate is also in touch with the Dhow owner and extending all possible assistance," the source added. "In the unfortunate fire incident on board an Indian wooden dhow at sea, 1 Indian crew died and four were injured. They were rescued by a vessel passing by. Indian consulate officials have met the rescued Indians. The injured are being extended medical treatment. @cgidubai remains in touch with the dhow owner and rendering all possible assistance," the Indian Mission in Dubai posted on X.
