A submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lanka’s southern coast has led to a major maritime emergency with many missing and injured. The Sri Lankan navy launched a rescue operation following a distress call from the vessel.
In a dramatic maritime emergency off Sri Lanka’s southern coast, at least 101 people are missing and 78 have been injured after what authorities described as a submarine attack on an Iranian ship, according to Sri Lanka Navy and defence ministry sources quoted by Reuters.
The incident happened in waters off Sri Lanka on Wednesday, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation by the Sri Lankan military after the vessel issued a distress call. Sri Lanka Navy confirmed injuries and many missing persons.
A defence ministry spokesperson said the Sri Lankan Navy dispatched a rescue mission after receiving an emergency signal from the Iranian ship.
“The Sri Lankan Navy has dispatched a rescue mission after a distress call from an Iranian ship,” the spokesperson said earlier in the day.
The spokesperson confirmed that 32 injured people have been rescued by the navy and are under treatment in hospital, revising earlier accounts of those wounded.
Foreign minister Vijitha Herath has previously told lawmakers that personnel from the sinking ship were taken ashore for medical care. He, however, did not provide further operational details but said Sri Lanka would take appropriate action in response to the incident.
No immediate information was available on the identity of the vessel, the number of people originally on board, or who may have been responsible for the reported submarine attack.
Further updates are awaited from Sri Lankan defence authorities and Iranian officials.
