More than a hundred people are missing after a submarine attack on an Iranian war frigate near the coast of Sri Lanka, reports The Independent. The incident took place outside the territorial waters of that island state, and an extensive search is underway for the missing.
Inconsistent information on the number of victims
At least 101 people are missing, while 78 people are injured, Sri Lankan navy and defense ministry sources told Reuters. However, a spokesman for the Sri Lankan Navy denied those figures, not yet specifying alternative data. It has been confirmed that 32 rescued crew members have been hospitalized. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that among those rescued were 32 sailors with serious injuries.
According to the Agence France-Presse report, the affected vessel is the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena.
Emergency intervention at Galle
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense earlier confirmed that the navy responded after a distress signal was sent from the ship. Local media reports that the call was made from an area near the city of Galle in the south of the country, and the injured were transported to the National Hospital in that city.
Minister Herath did not provide further details about the circumstances of the attack, but said that the Sri Lankan authorities would take appropriate steps. Footage that has surfaced shows heightened security outside a hospital in Galle, as well as ambulances arriving at the country’s Southern Naval Command.
(TYPE/Source: federalna.ba/Photo: X)
