South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that a fire on a South Korean-flagged vessel after an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz has been extinguished, and that the exact cause is expected to be determined after the ship is towed.
In a notice to reporters, the ministry said all 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, were confirmed unharmed. It added that the fire had been put out and no additional damage was reported.
The explosion and fire broke out at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korea time) on a cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping company HMM, the HMM NAMU, in waters near the United Arab Emirates within the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said.
The ministry said it remains unclear whether the ship can resume normal operations. It said the vessel is to be towed to a nearby port to assess damage and carry out repairs. A tugboat is being arranged, but a specific towing schedule has not been set, it said.
The United States on Monday launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom” to escort civilian ships out of the Gulf region (Persian Gulf) through the Strait of Hormuz using military aircraft and warships.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social that Iran had fired several times at unrelated countries, including a South Korean cargo ship, over ship movements linked to the operation, adding that it seemed time for South Korea to join.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that the cause of the incident is expected to be identified during the post-towing inspection.
Earlier Tuesday at midnight, the ministry convened a meeting of its overseas nationals protection task force, chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina. Seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attended, it said.
South Korea’s embassy in the UAE and its consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and relevant agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the safety of the South Korean crew and request needed assistance.
The participating missions said they have maintained regular communication with host-country authorities and taken steps to protect and support South Korean ships and sailors. They said they will further strengthen coordination with local authorities to ensure rapid rescue and other safety measures if needed.
In a notice to reporters, the ministry said all 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, were confirmed unharmed. It added that the fire had been put out and no additional damage was reported.
The explosion and fire broke out at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korea time) on a cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping company HMM, the HMM NAMU, in waters near the United Arab Emirates within the Strait of Hormuz, the ministry said.
The ministry said it remains unclear whether the ship can resume normal operations. It said the vessel is to be towed to a nearby port to assess damage and carry out repairs. A tugboat is being arranged, but a specific towing schedule has not been set, it said.
The United States on Monday launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom” to escort civilian ships out of the Gulf region (Persian Gulf) through the Strait of Hormuz using military aircraft and warships.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on social media platform Truth Social that Iran had fired several times at unrelated countries, including a South Korean cargo ship, over ship movements linked to the operation, adding that it seemed time for South Korea to join.
The Foreign Ministry reiterated that the cause of the incident is expected to be identified during the post-towing inspection.
Earlier Tuesday at midnight, the ministry convened a meeting of its overseas nationals protection task force, chaired by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina. Seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attended, it said.
South Korea’s embassy in the UAE and its consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and relevant agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the safety of the South Korean crew and request needed assistance.
The participating missions said they have maintained regular communication with host-country authorities and taken steps to protect and support South Korean ships and sailors. They said they will further strengthen coordination with local authorities to ensure rapid rescue and other safety measures if needed.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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