Videos showing iPhones and luxury perfume bottles floating in the Strait of Hormuz have surfaced on social media. Reportedly, the items spilt overboard from the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, which sank on October 14.
“We are gathering and heading towards the Strait of Hormuz,” one man said in a video. “We heard a container ship sank, so we’re going to collect iPhones and perfume.”
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The ship sank after a fire broke out on board after being struck by an unidentified projectile. All 21 crew members were evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.
"GFS PRIDE sustained damage and a fire on board, and has since sunk. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported," the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said in a statement, reported the Telegraph.
According to maritime security sources, GFS Pride was a small container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 20-foot equivalent units (TEU).
{{/usCountry}}According to maritime security sources, GFS Pride was a small container vessel with a capacity of 2,824 20-foot equivalent units (TEU).
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Iran's Revolutionary Guards said that the ship hit naval mines and sank while passing through what they claimed was an "unauthorised" route in the Strait of Hormuz.
Surge in attacks:
Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past 10 days. In a separate incident, a dry bulk carrier sank after being hit by a projectile.
(With inputs from Reuters)