A South Korean investigation team has determined that an explosion and fire on a South Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz were caused by strikes from “unidentified airborne objects.” The team confirmed that these objects hit the stern of the HMM vessel, causing significant damage to the hull plating. The incident involved two separate strikes occurring nearly a minute apart on May 4.
The investigation revealed that the engine room fire was likely triggered by the initial strike from one of the unidentified flying objects. Subsequently, a second impact led to a rapid escalation of the blaze. Despite capturing CCTV footage of the objects, authorities face challenges in identifying their precise nature, origin, and size. The possibility of the objects being mines or torpedoes is considered low.
US President Donald Trump had previously suggested Iranian involvement in the incident, but the Iranian Embassy in Seoul has firmly denied any military connection. South Korea intends to conduct further analysis on engine debris recovered from the scene to ascertain the nature of the objects that struck the vessel. The government emphasizes a commitment to impartially investigating the incident without assigning blame prematurely.
Iranian Ambassador to South Korea, Saeed Koozechi, visited the Foreign Ministry in Seoul following the release of the investigation results. The Namu, along with numerous other vessels, remains stranded in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions. The vessel, carrying 24 crew members, including six South Koreans, was safely towed to a port in Dubai for inspection.
