Photo shows oil tanker on fire off the coast of Iran after apparent attacks

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting

Smoke billows from the Front Altair oil tanker in photos published by Iran's IRIB news agency.

• An oil tanker is on fire after it was hit by apparent attacks in the Gulf of Oman.
• Front Altair, a tanker owned by Norwegian company Frontline, is on, but the company said that the crew is safe.
• The company which chartered the ship said it was "suspected of being hit by a torpedo."
• A second tanker, also subject to a "suspected attack," has been evacuated.

A photo shows an oil tanker on fire off the coast of Iran after two oil tankers in the region were hit by unexplained attacks.

The image, published by Iranian state media, shows the burning Front Altair, a tanker owned by Norwegian company Frontline.

Frontline told Reuters on Thursday that the shop was on fire but that its crew had been rescued. It denied reports that the ship sank.

Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC, which had chartered the ship, said that it was "suspected of being hit by a torpedo."

Bernhard Schulte Ship management also told Reuters that a second tanker, the Kokuka Courageous was damaged, in a "suspected attack."

The unexplained blast breached the hull above the water line while transporting methanol from Saudi Arabia to Singapore.

Both ships have been evacuated.

A US Navy fleet told Reuters that it is helping the tankers after it got distress calls, while a part of the UK's Royal Navy said it was investigating.