Vessel from UAE goes down in Strait of Hormuz, leaving three Indonesian sailors unaccounted for

A devastating incident has unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz, where the United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank on Friday, resulting in three missing Indonesian crew members, according to Jakarta's foreign ministry.

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The Strait of Hormuz has witnessed numerous attacks on ships since the US-Israeli war on Iran commenced on February 28, posing significant risks to vessels navigating the area.

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The Musaffah 2 had a crew of seven members, hailing from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines, with four surviving the incident and three Indonesian crew members still unaccounted for, the ministry reported.

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Prior to sinking, the tugboat experienced a catastrophic explosion that triggered a fire, prompting an ongoing investigation by local authorities, as stated in the ministry's statement.

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Security firm Vanguard revealed that the tugboat was struck by two missiles while attempting to provide aid to the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been hit by a missile on Wednesday.

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One Indonesian survivor is undergoing burn treatment at a hospital in Khasab, Oman, while the other three missing Indonesians are still being searched for by local authorities, according to the Indonesian ministry.

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An additional Indonesian national, who was present at the incident location, is now safely on a different vessel, the statement noted.