A total of 23 Indian crew members have been rescued after an explosion and subsequent fire aboard the Cameroon-flagged LPG tanker MV Falcon off the coast of Aden, Yemen.
The blast occurred on Saturday, October 18, at around 07:00 UTC while the ship was sailing from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti. The explosion left around 15 percent of the vessel engulfed in flames and caused it to drift in the Gulf of Aden.
According to British security firm Ambrey, the crew had sent out distress calls after the explosion, and preparations were underway to abandon the vessel when a rescue operation was launched.
The EU Naval Force’s Operation Aspides coordinated the search-and-rescue mission and confirmed that 23 of the 24 crew members, all Indian nationals, were safely rescued. Two crew members remain missing, while one was still on board at the time of the latest update.
Operation Aspides issued warnings to nearby vessels to maintain a safe distance because the MV Falcon, which was carrying a full load of liquefied petroleum gas, posed a high risk of further explosions.
“The fire on board is increasing. MV Falcon represents a navigational hazard. Everyone in the area must exercise caution,” the mission said in a statement. A private salvage company has since taken control of operations for the damaged ship.
Authorities have ruled out any involvement by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have previously targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden amid the ongoing regional conflict.
The Houthis issued a statement denying responsibility for the incident.
The European naval task force and regional maritime authorities said preliminary findings suggest the explosion was accidental, though the cause remains under investigation. The EU Naval Force said it is working with international partners to assess the structural condition of the ship and determine the source of the blast.
The MV Falcon incident comes at a time of heightened maritime insecurity in the Red Sea corridor, where several shipping routes have been disrupted by attacks linked to the war in Gaza. The EU Operation Aspides, launched earlier this year, has been tasked with protecting commercial vessels and seafarers navigating the Gulf of Aden and the wider region.
The rescued crew members are receiving medical attention, and efforts are ongoing to locate those still missing. Maritime authorities continue to monitor the vessel’s position, as the drifting tanker remains a potential hazard for nearby traffic. Investigations into the cause of the explosion and fire are continuing.
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