Sri Lankan Navy rescues 30 sailors from distressed Iranian frigate

The warship sent a distress signal from the Indian Ocean, about 40 nautical miles off the southwest coast of the island

The Sri Lankan Navy has rescued 30 Iranians from the sinking IRIS Dena warship, Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said on Wednesday.

The sinking vessel issued a distress signal on Wednesday morning from the Indian Ocean, about 40 nautical miles off the city of Galle in southwestern Sri Lanka.

“We first received a distress call at around 5:08 AM,” Herath said. “We immediately dispatched two navy ships to assist the Iranian Navy Vessel. Thereafter, a joint operation was conducted by the navy and air force to rescue those in need of help. Thirty persons in need of urgent help were immediately rescued. They have been admitted to the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle.”

Some 180 people were believed to be on board the warship.

“We are bound by the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, to help any ship in distress, irrespective of its nationality,” Herath added.

Sources close to the rescue operation told RT that the ship had likely been torpedoed. 

IRIS Dena is a Moudge-class frigate of Iran’s Southern Fleet.