The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Guard has rescued 22 Asian crew members after a fire broke out aboard an oil tanker in Gulf waters, prompting an emergency response by the country’s Coast Guard. In a statement issued on Saturday, the National Guard said its Coast Guard received a distress call from the vessel’s crew after the fire erupted.
Specialist response teams were immediately dispatched to the scene and successfully located the tanker, allowing all 22 crew members to be rescued. Those rescued were reported to be in stable condition, with no further details provided about their nationalities, the extent of the fire or whether anyone sustained injuries.
Authorities did not identify the tanker or disclose its location, the cause of the blaze or the extent of any damage to the vessel. It also remained unclear whether the fire posed any risk of an oil spill or other environmental impact. The incident adds to growing concerns over maritime safety in Gulf waters, where commercial shipping has faced heightened security risks amid escalating regional tensions and a series of attacks involving merchant vessels.
The UAE has strategic maritime interests in the Gulf, with its ports and shipping routes serving as vital links in global energy trade. Any incident involving an oil tanker can raise concerns over crew safety, potential pollution and disruption to commercial operations.
Further details about the circumstances surrounding the fire are expected to emerge as authorities establish what happened aboard the vessel.