13 Indians Among 16 Crew Members Missing After Oil Tanker Sinks Off Oman Coast

Thirteen Indian crew members are missing after an oil tanker capsized off the coast of Oman on Monday. The tanker, named Prestige Falcon and flagged under Comoros, had a total crew of 16, including three Sri Lankans.

The authorities in Oman launched a search and rescue operation on Monday shortly after the incident, but as of the latest update, the crew remains unaccounted for.

According to the Maritime Security Centre, the Prestige Falcon capsized 25 nautical miles southeast of Ras Madrakah, near the port town of Duqm. The tanker was en route to the Yemeni port of Aden.

Duqm, located on Oman's southwest coast, is a key area for the sultanate's oil and gas projects. The port town is home to a significant oil refinery and forms part of Oman's largest industrial zone.

The Omani Maritime Security Centre informed Reuters that the tanker is currently submerged and inverted, but did not confirm whether it has stabilized or if there are any oil leaks.

The Prestige Falcon, a 117-metre-long oil products tanker built in 2007, is typically used for short voyages, according to LSEG's shipping data. The search and rescue operation continues as authorities strive to locate the missing crew members.