At least 140 individuals are currently unaccounted for, and 32 others have sustained injuries following a reported submarine attack on an Iranian vessel, the frigate Iris Dena, which occurred off the coast of Sri Lanka.
This information has been gathered from various local and international media outlets.
The Iris Dena, which was carrying a crew of 180 at the time of the incident, issued a distress signal early in the morning before it sank in Sri Lanka’s territorial waters.
In response to the emergency, Sri Lankan authorities mobilised resources for a rescue operation, successfully rescuing 32 sailors and transporting them to medical facilities in the country’s southern region.
These hospitals are on high alert to accommodate any additional casualties and provide necessary medical treatment.
Vijitha Herath, Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, confirmed that the injured sailors are currently receiving care in the hospitals. As part of the rescue efforts, two naval vessels and an aircraft were dispatched to assist in locating the missing crew members and to support the ongoing operations.
Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath told AFP: “We responded to the distress call under our international obligations, as this is within our Search and Rescue Area in the Indian Ocean.
Sampath Thuiyakontha, the Secretary of the Defence Ministry of Sri Lanka, communicated with BBC Sinhala and stated that approximately 140 people remain missing, raising concerns about their safety and condition.
The specific circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Iris Dena remain unclear. Authorities are investigating whether the incident was a result of an attack as part of a broader military operation involving the United States or Israel against Iran, although no official confirmations have been made regarding this theory at present.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara said there is now an investigation into the “exact cause.”
He told BBC Sinhala: “The Navy is investigating. The cause has not been determined yet. At this time, we have not been able to find a definitive cause.”
He added: “There are cuts. There are burns. There are a few people with broken bones.”
