At least 78 people have been injured while over 100 are missing after a submarine attacked an Iranian ship off Srilanka's southern coast on Wednesday, reported Reuters.
The attack comes amid an ongoing war between US, Israel and Iran. The US Central command has already reported destruction of 17 Iranian vessels so far.
The incident, as per the Sri Lankan autorities, has taken place just outside the territorial waters of the country. The authorities, however, were not releasing any footages of the incident given “military of other state” is involved.
“One of them was seriously injured. Another 101 are believed to be missing, and the vessel has sunk,” the source told Reuters, insisting that he was not authorised to speak to the media.
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Local media said that the ship reported distress off the coast in Galle. A defence ministry spokesperson has said that 32 injured people have been rescued so far, who are now undergoing treatment.
There has been no immediate clarification on the identity of the vessel and the nature (or the perpetrator) of the attack so far.
Reports on the actual number of people on board, originally, also remain scarce.
Sri Lankan Coast Guards have sent rescue missions to the coast, and many of the injured have been evacuated to the hospital in Galle. It has also deployed naval ships and aircrafts to assist the rescue operation.
A Navy source has told Reuters on condition of anonymity, that 79 people were rescued and brought to the hospital.
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Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told lawmakers that personnel from the sinking ship have been taken ashore for medical care.
He, too, did not provide any operational details, but said that Sri Lanka would take appropriate action in response to the incident.
Dr , a health ministry official has been quoted by news outlets confirming one of the injured was in a critical condition.
“Seven are receiving emergency treatment, and others are treated for minor injuries,” news outlet quoted health ministry official Dr Anil Jasinghe Jasinghe.
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