Large Iranian naval vessel sinks after fire in Gulf of Oman
Tehran, Jun 2 (EFE).- One of Iran’s largest navy ships has sunk after catching fire in the Gulf of Oman, the Iranian Navy announced on Wednesday.
Behzad Jahanian, a naval spokesman, said that about 400 crew and trainees aboard the vessel were evacuated safely at the time of the incident, with 20 people hospitalized with injuries.
The ship sank after efforts to save it had gone on for 20 hours, Iranian news agency IRNA cited Jahanian as saying.
IRIS Kharg, a 30,000-ton logistics ship, had been in service for four decades and was reportedly on a training mission in international waters.
The vessel was Iran’s largest after the Makran, which has the capacity to carry up to seven helicopters.
The exact cause of the incident not yet known, according to an army statement.
In recent months, several Iranian ships have been damaged in incidents that Tehran has accused Israel of orchestrating.
Iran’s Saviz cargo ship stationed in the Red Sea exploded in April, after it was targeted by a limpet mine, according to semi-official media.
In a separate incident, a total of 19 Iranian navy troops died and 15 others were injured when their ship was hit by a missile during a naval exercise off the Port of Jask in May last year.
mv/smq/jt
