India has confirmed that all 24 crew members from the oil tanker, which caught fire after a U.S. attack off the coast of Oman, have been rescued and are safe.
On Monday, 8 June 2026 GMT+7, Indian government officials revealed that Omani authorities deployed helicopters to evacuate 24 Indian crew members from the burning oil tanker off Oman's coast, without disclosing the cause of the fire.
“We thank the Omani authorities for their swift response and assistance in rescuing all 24 Indian crew members aboard the MT Marivex, ensuring their safety,” the Indian Embassy in Oman stated on social media.
India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways reported receiving information about a fire on the MT Marivex, an oil tanker registered under the Palau flag, at approximately 13:30 on Monday, but did not provide details on the extent of damage or the fire’s cause.
However, just hours earlier, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that its military struck an empty oil tanker off Oman’s coast, a vessel under U.S. sanctions heading toward an Iranian port subject to a U.S. maritime blockade.
The MT Marivex, owned by Arihant Shipping Inc., was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department last December due to links with sanctions imposed on Iran.
Previously, the Indian seafarers’ union reported that 24 Indian crew members on the tanker were in danger, sharing an audio distress call in which crew stated a fire had broken out, reportedly caused by “a U.S. Navy attack.”
“There is a fire on our ship, and the ship is sinking. The U.S. Navy attacked; a missile struck our engine room,” the distress call obtained by CNN stated. “Please help, fire on board... 24 crew members, all Indian.”
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Source:cna