Middle East crisis: Thai vessel struck in Strait of Hormuz; 3 crew members missing – The Times of India

Twenty crew members have been rescued, while three remain missing after a Thai cargo vessel was struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, Thailand’s Transport Ministry said on Wednesday.According to the ministry, the crew abandoned the vessel in a lifeboat after the incident and were later rescued by the Omani navy. Authorities said an explosion occurred at the stern of the ship, triggering a fire in the engine compartment where the three missing crew members had been working at the time.Dramatic visuals from the damaged ship show smoke billowing from the damaged ship after it was struck.Search and rescue operations were underway for the missing crew, the ministry said, adding that the cause of the attack and the origin of the projectiles were not immediately clear.The vessel, Mayuree Naree Bangkok, was struck while sailing near Oman waters. The offensive hit the ship near its stern. Images shared by the local news outlet, Thai Enquirer, show the damage done to the vessel. The shipping data from MarineTraffic showed the vessel had departed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and was heading to India at the time.Omani naval authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the condition of the rescued crew or the current status of the damaged vessel. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.The incident comes amid heightened tensions and security concerns in the Strait of Hormuz.Shipping companies have increasingly raised alarms over the safety of commercial vessels navigating the narrow waterway as regional hostilities have intensified.Recent weeks have seen multiple disruptions to maritime traffic in the region, with ships facing threats from missiles, drones and other projectiles linked to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Several international shipping firms have reportedly rerouted vessels or adopted additional security measures while transiting the Gulf.