COLOMBO: A suspected Indian Navy submarine has attacked an Iranian ship, leaving over 100 people dead in Sri Lanka.
According to sources, a search and rescue operation is currently active off the coast of Sri Lanka following the sinking of the Iranian vessel IRIS Dena.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed the incident to parliament on Wednesday.
While defence and navy sources initially suggested the ship may have been targeted by a submarine with 101 personnel missing, a navy spokesperson has since dismissed those figures and declined to comment on the cause of the sinking.
Official reports confirm that the Sri Lankan Navy rescued 32 injured people after receiving a distress call. The survivors are receiving medical care at a state hospital in Galle.
The Sri Lankan Air Force and Navy continue to scan the Indian Ocean for survivors. Authorities stated that no other vessels or aircraft were spotted in the vicinity at the time of the incident, and a formal investigation into the cause of the sinking will be conducted once rescue efforts conclude.
