Diplomats in Oman checking whether attacked tankers have Russian crewmembers
MOSCOW. June 13 (Interfax) - The Russian embassy to Oman is checking whether tankers attacked in the Gulf of Oman have Russian crewmembers, the embassy's consular section head Alexander Pogodin told the television channel Rossiya 24 (VGTRK).
"We are trying to get in touch with the Omani authorities to clarify lists of crewmembers, circumstances of the incident, and possible casualties, including Russian ones," Pogodin said.
There were reports earlier of attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. According to the Iranian television channel Press TV, two explosions occurred in the Gulf of Oman in the morning, and several ships sent distress signals.
The U.S. Navy's navigation safety unit called on everyone traversing the Gulf of Oman to be extremely careful.
The Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang reported on Thursday that the tanker which caught fire in the Gulf of Oman was manned mainly by citizens of Russia, Georgia, and the Philippines.