LiberiaIndians Rescued After Tanker Attack
A Liberia-flagged oil tanker with 23 Indian crew members was attacked by drone boats off Russia's Black Sea coast, but all crew members were saved and evacuated to shore. The incident occurred near Sochi, a popular resort city.
Global Newsflix 2 min read
Russian authorities said the Aframax Rio tanker came under attack on Tuesday by unmanned surface vessels, resulting in an open fire in the Black Sea waters. The Russian transport ministry said the vessel's all Indian crew of 23 was saved and none was hurt according to preliminary data.
The incident took place near Sochi, Russia’s popular resort city on the Black Sea coast. Russia’s Transport Minister Andrey Nikitin held a headquarters meeting on eliminating the consequences of the attack on the tanker Aframax Rio off the Black Sea coast.
The fire was so intense that firefighting could not begin initially. Open burning of oil is currently taking place in the Black Sea area. Firefighting can begin only after the intensity decreases, when it becomes possible for rescue vessels to approach the tanker safely.
As a precautionary measure, Sochi Mayor Andrey Proshunin temporarily banned access to the city's beaches. The city’s emergency response centre has made a decision to temporarily ban access to the beaches and sea embankments.
The attack comes two days after at least two people were killed and some crew members, including one Indian, were injured after a Russian drone strike caused a fire on a Turkish-owned civilian cargo vessel in the Black Sea. India said it viewed these attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers with grave concern.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the targeting of traffic in international waterways is severely undermining global commerce and welfare of people across the world. India has moved beyond advocacy and stepped up its efforts in recent months to resolve the Ukraine conflict by engaging in conversations with both Kyiv and Moscow.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India continues to call for dialogue and diplomacy to bring an end to the ongoing conflicts.
Key facts
- 23 Indian crew members were rescued after the Liberia-flagged oil tanker was attacked
- The attack occurred near Sochi, a popular resort city on the Black Sea coast
- The fire was so intense that firefighting could not begin initially
- India views these attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers with grave concern
Three perspectives
Neutral
The attack on the Liberia-flagged oil tanker has raised concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea. The incident is being closely monitored by India and other countries. The situation is being assessed to determine the next course of action.
Positive
The rescue of the 23 Indian crew members is a positive development in the incident. India's efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy are also a constructive step. The temporary ban on access to Sochi's beaches is a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.
Negative
The attack on the oil tanker has resulted in an open fire in the Black Sea waters, causing environmental concerns. The incident has also raised concerns about the escalating attacks on commercial shipping and port infrastructure in the region. India's grave concern about the attacks on commercial shipping and seafarers highlights the need for a resolution to the conflict.
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