Iran state news: Iranian tanker explodes near Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah

Iran state news: Iranian tanker explodes near Saudi Arabia’s port city of Jeddah
October 11, 2019, 7:29 am

The explosion has caused heavy damages and oil is spilling in the Red Sea, unnamed sources told Iran's ISNA news agency. (Twitter)

An explosion on an Iranian oil tanker has caused it to set fire on Friday 60 miles from the Saudi port city of Jeddah, Iran’s ISNA news agency reported. The vessel is owned by Iran's state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC), who identified the tanker as the “Sinopa.”

The explosion has caused heavy damages and oil is spilling in the Red Sea, unnamed sources told ISNA. Iran said on Thursday that the tanker is still in the Red Sea, and that there are plans to change its course.

The unnamed source added that the situation is now under control. NIOC reported that there were no casualties caused by the incident.

“None of the crew members were injured at the explosion ... the situation is under control,” the news agency reported.