RED SEA. Three fires have erupted on a Greek-flagged oil tanker in the Red Sea, following an attack by Yemeni Houthi militants, according to a statement from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Friday. The incident occurred just one day after the vessel’s crew was evacuated due to the assault.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control much of Yemen, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Sounion oil tanker on Thursday. The group stated that this action was part of their 10-month campaign against commercial shipping to support Palestinians in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. “Delta Tankers violated our ban on entry to the ports of occupied Palestine,” Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree declared in a televised address.
The initial attack on Wednesday severely damaged the tanker, causing a fire and disabling its engine. A European warship later rescued the 25-member crew, consisting of 23 Filipino and two Russian merchant marines. The vessel was anchored between Yemen and Eritrea when the crew abandoned it, but it now appears to be adrift.
On Friday, the UKMTO reported that three fires were observed on the Sounion, which is carrying 150,000 metric tons of crude oil. The fires have raised serious concerns about a potential environmental disaster. The European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, warned, “A potential spill could lead to disastrous consequences for the region’s marine environment.”
The Djibouti Ports & Free Zones Authority echoed this warning on social media, stating, “A spill of this magnitude could have catastrophic effects on the region’s marine life and coastal ecosystems.”
The Houthis released a video on social media on Friday, allegedly showing their forces setting the tanker on fire. This attack marks the third time this month that a vessel operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers has been targeted by the Houthis.
In response, Delta Tankers stated, “We are doing everything we can to move the vessel and its cargo. For security reasons, we are not in a position to comment further.”
The Sounion’s crew, who managed to anchor the vessel before abandoning it, are now safe, but the drifting ship poses a growing threat in the already volatile Red Sea region. The potential for a massive oil spill has drawn comparisons to the largest recorded ship-source spill in 1979, when 287,000 tonnes of oil were released into the Caribbean Sea after the Atlantic Empress collided with another crude carrier.
As the situation develops, international maritime and environmental authorities are closely monitoring the tanker, with efforts underway to prevent a catastrophic spill that could have long-lasting impacts on the region’s ecosystem.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
