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An attack on a cargo ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz killed an Indian sailor on Wednesday, Indian and Omani authorities said, as New Delhi condemned the continuing assaults on vessels passing through the strategic waterway.
"One Indian national tragically lost his life," India's foreign ministry said in a statement, without elaborating further on the circumstances of the attack.
Oman's Maritime Security Centre said the attack sparked a fire in the ship's engine room, which resulted in "the death of one crew member," according to the centre's statement. Twenty-seven other crew members were evacuated from the vessel following the incident, Omani authorities said.
Neither the Indian foreign ministry nor Oman's Maritime Security Centre disclosed the ship's name, flag registry, or additional details about the nature of the attack.
New Delhi used its statement to condemn the broader pattern of attacks on shipping in the strait, though it did not attribute responsibility for Wednesday's incident to any specific party.
The Strait of Hormuz, which separates Oman and Iran, is one of the world's most important maritime chokepoints, serving as the primary route for oil and gas tankers moving between Persian Gulf producers and international markets.
Roughly a fifth of global oil consumption is estimated to pass through the narrow waterway, making any disruption to shipping there a matter of significant concern to global energy markets.
Authorities in Oman and India did not immediately provide further details on the extent of damage to the vessel or the status of a broader investigation into the attack.
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