Three Indonesians Missing After UAE-Flagged Tugboat Explodes in Strait of Hormuz

Yogyakarta, March 8 — Three Indonesian crew members are missing after a United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat exploded and sank in the Strait of Hormuz early on Friday, Indonesia’s foreign ministry said, as tensions escalate in the strategic waterway amid the ongoing Iran–U.S.-Israel conflict.

The vessel, Musaffah 2, exploded and caught fire before sinking at around 2:00 a.m. local time on March 6 in waters between the United Arab Emirates and Oman, according to Heni Hamidah, acting director for the protection of Indonesian citizens at the foreign ministry.

“Based on eyewitness accounts, the Musaffah 2 exploded and caught fire before eventually sinking in the Strait of Hormuz,” Heni said in a written statement on Saturday.

Ship activities around Strait of Hormuz on March 8, 2026

Four Indonesian nationals were among the crew working on the UAE-flagged tugboat. One Indonesian survivor is currently receiving treatment for burn injuries at a hospital in Khasab, Oman, while the other three remain missing and are being searched for by local authorities.

The tugboat had seven crew members in total, consisting of nationals from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. Four crew members survived the incident, while three remain unaccounted for.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry said it is coordinating with authorities in the UAE and Oman, as well as the vessel’s owner, Safeen Prestige, to monitor the situation and support ongoing rescue efforts.

Separately, the ministry said another Indonesian national who was near the location at the time of the explosion but working on a different vessel was confirmed safe.

Authorities in the UAE and Oman are investigating the cause of the explosion.

The incident occurred as the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil and gas, has become a flashpoint following the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and a coalition involving the United States and Israel since Feb. 28.

Iran has closed the strait and warned it could attack vessels linked to Israel, the United States, or countries supporting them. Tehran has said ships from Russia and China would be allowed to pass safely.

Since the conflict began, Iran has launched several attacks on ships, including tankers, in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has also claimed it successfully struck the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry urged Indonesians in the Middle East, including seafarers working on international vessels, to remain vigilant, monitor official information sources ,and stay in contact with the nearest Indonesian diplomatic missions.