More than 100 people are missing after a submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lanka’s coast, according to reports.
At least 101 people are missing and 78 wounded following the incident just outside the island’s territorial waters on Wednesday, sources in Sri Lanka’s navy and defence ministry told Reuters.
The Sri Lankan military has rescued at least 32 “critically wounded” sailors on board the sunk Iranian frigate IRIS Dena, the country’s foreign minister told parliament.
The Sri Lankan navy dispatched a rescue mission after a distress call from the ship, a defence ministry spokesperson said earlier on Wednesday.
Foreign minister Vijitha Herath did not give further details but said Sri Lanka would take appropriate action.
According to local media, the ship reported distress off the coast of Galle in the southern part of the country, and the injured have been admitted to a hospital in Galle.
Pictures show security personnel standing guard in front of the National Hospital Galle, while ambulances drive into Sri Lanka’s southern naval headquarters in the city.
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