A cargo ship damaged in an attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen has left a huge oil spill in the Gulf of Aden. On Friday, local time, the United States warned of the risk of a serious environmental disaster.
The Rubimare, a Belize-flagged, UK-registered cargo ship operated by Lebanon, was carrying fertilizer when it was targeted on Sunday by a missile attack announced by Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
The Blue Fleet group that operates the ship said the crew was evacuated to Djibouti, but an initial missile hit the side of the ship, causing water to enter the engine room and causing severe damage to the ship's stern.
Roy Khoury, CEO of the Blue Fleet, said a second missile hit the ship's deck without causing serious damage.
The oil slick is about 29 kilometers long
The US military command center in the Middle East said on Friday that the abandoned ship was anchored but was slowly taking on water and had already left an oil slick about 18 miles (29 kilometers) long.
US Central Command said on the X website: “The M/V Rubymar was carrying more than 41,000 tons of fertilizer when it was attacked, which could end up in the Red Sea and exacerbate this environmental disaster.”
The operator said on Thursday that the ship could be towed to Djibouti this week. Khoury said that “there is no danger at the present time” of the ship sinking.
The attack on Rubymar caused the most damage to date to a commercial ship since the Houthis began their attacks in November.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
“Creator. Award-winning problem solver. Music evangelist. Incurable introvert.”
More Stories
King's Day: 10x facts and figures
The zebra finch, which hears the sounds of cars and motorcycles in the egg, still experiences this as an adult
An official ceremony for Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan (photos)