One Dead, Dozens Rescued After Explosions Rock Two Oil Tankers Near Iraq's Basra Port

Basra. One person has died following explosions on two foreign oil tankers near Iraq's Basra port in the Persian Gulf. It has been reported that dozens of crew members were rescued in the incident.

According to the Iraqi governmental body responsible for ports, rescue teams safely evacuated 38 crew members from the vessels following the incident. However, the death of one person in the accident has been confirmed. Officials stated that search and rescue operations are still ongoing.

Initial information suggests that the cause of the explosion is not yet clear. A security source in the Basra region informed American media that there is suspicion that an Iranian boat carrying explosive materials may have collided with the oil tanker. However, it has been stated that a formal investigation into this matter is underway.

Ship tracking websites also showed rescue boats surrounding both tankers. Iraqi officials reported that the operation of oil ports in the Basra region has been temporarily halted due to security risks following the incident.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident near the Persian Gulf, Oman's state news agency reported that the Omani navy rescued 20 sailors from a Thai-flagged vessel that came under attack near the Strait of Hormuz.

Concerns about the security of oil shipping routes have been rising recently due to increasing tensions in the Middle East. The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz are among the world's most vital oil supply routes. About 20 percent of the world's oil is transported through this route.