Around 140 People Missing After Iranian Navy Ship Sinks Off Sri Lanka

Around 140 People Missing After Iranian Navy Ship Sinks Off Sri Lanka Around 140 people are missing after an Iranian naval vessel sank off the southern coast of Sri Lanka, in what has become one of the most dramatic developments in the escalating Middle East conflict. The cause of the ship’s sinking remains unclear, and rescue operations are ongoing

• Sri Lankan authorities say the Iranian navy frigate IRIS Dena issued a distress call early Wednesday before sinking about 40 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, in Sri Lanka’s search‑and‑rescue area in the Indian Ocean.
• The Sri Lankan navy responded, rescuing 32 people believed to be crew members and bringing them ashore for medical treatment.
• Officials estimate around 140 people out of about 180 onboard are currently feared missing, though exact figures have not been confirmed.

Sri Lankan rescue teams, including naval vessels and aircraft, searched the area where the ship went down. Survivors found in the water were taken to a hospital in Galle, where they received treatment for injuries. Officials reported seeing oil slicks, life rafts and debris at the scene, but the wreckage of the ship itself was no longer visible when rescuers arrived.

At this stage, Sri Lankan authorities have not determined the cause of the sinking. A navy spokesman told the BBC that while the incident occurred outside their territorial waters, it was within their designated search‑and‑rescue region, obliging them to respond. There have been wider international reports suggesting a possible attack by a submarine, but Sri Lanka’s military has not officially confirmed this as the cause of the ship’s sinking.

The IRIS Dena is a Moudge‑class frigate of the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy, reported to be carrying around 180 crew members at the time of the incident. The vessel was reported to have been returning from international engagements when the distress call was sent. Details about its mission or destination have not been publicly disclose The sinking of the Iranian naval ship occurs amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, as the United States and Israel have intensified military operations against Iran, and Tehran has responded with missile and drone strikes on targets across the region. Sri Lanka’s response to the distress call, despite the incident occurring outside its territorial waters, reflects its obligations under international maritime search‑and‑rescue protocols. Search and rescue efforts are continuing as authorities work to locate missing crew members and understand the circumstances surrounding the ship’s sinking.

The international community including naval forces and diplomatic sources is awaiting clearer information on what caused the incident and whether it was connected to broader hostilities involving Iran’s armed forces.