12 INJURED IN PANAMA TANKER ATTACK

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 6 /SRNA-Reuters/ - An unidentified projectile struck a Panama-flagged tanker as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, injuring 12 crew members, India's Ministry of External Affairs said today.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a fire broke out in the engine room after the incident. The vessel was not named.

"With the assistance of Omani authorities, the injured crew members were evacuated and received medical treatment in Khasab, Oman," the ministry said in a statement.

Eleven of the 12 injured crew members are Indian nationals. There were 19 crew members aboard the tanker.

The tanker was last seen unloading oil at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates on August 26 with its transponder switched off.