Over 100 missing after submarine attack on Iranian ship near Sri Lanka UPDATED

At least 101 people are reported missing and 78 injured following a submarine attack on an Iranian vessel off the coast of Sri Lanka, sources from the Sri Lanka Navy and the country’s Defence Ministry confirmed.

Details about the attack, including the circumstances and the responsible party, have not yet been confirmed. Rescue and medical efforts are underway to assist the injured and locate those still missing, Reuters reports.

12:27

Sri Lanka’s navy and air force have been deployed to assist Iranian sailors after their vessel began sinking off the coast of the island, authorities said.

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told parliament that a distress signal from the vessel “IRIS Dena” was received at dawn. There were reportedly 180 people on board at the time of the emergency, BBC reports.

According to Herath, 30 injured sailors have been transported to a hospital in the southern port city of Galle for medical treatment.

The cause of the sinking remains unclear. During the parliamentary session, an opposition lawmaker questioned whether the ship may have been bombed as part of US-Israeli attacks against Iran. No official response to that suggestion has been issued.

By Vafa Guliyeva