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About 140 people are feared missing after an Iranian navy ship sank off the coast of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan Navy said about 180 people were believed to have been on board, with 32 rescued so far.
A spokesman told the BBC that the cause of the sinking remains unknown.
Sri Lanka’s Navy confirmed it rescued 32 people after receiving a distress call from the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena early on the morning of March 4.
Budhika Sampath, spokesman for the Sri Lankan Navy, said: “Though it was beyond our waters, it was within our search and rescue region. So we were obliged to respond as per international obligations.”
He added: “We found people floating on the water, rescued them, and later, upon inquiry, confirmed that they were from an Iranian ship.”
According to the vessel’s documentation, about 180 people were on board at the time of the incident, although the exact number of those missing has not been confirmed.
The spokesman said that when rescue operations began, the ship itself was not visible. Instead, responders saw oil slicks on the water and floating life rafts.
He also dismissed reports suggesting the vessel may have been sunk in a submarine attack, reiterating that the cause of the incident is still unknown.
So far, Sri Lanka’s military has not confirmed what may have led to the sinking.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a fresh wave of strikes across the region, with several people reportedly killed in attacks on Lebanon. The Israeli military said the strikes targeted Hezbollah operatives and facilities.
