October 20, 2025

The sea turned dangerous near the port of Aden, Yemen, when the Cameroon-flagged MV Falcon caught fire after a terrifying explosion onboard. Sailing southeast towards Djibouti, this ship was loaded full of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) — a serious ticking bomb in itself! The alarm rang loud on Saturday when the ship’s master sent out an urgent distress call. Immediately, the UN naval force EUNAVFOR ASPIDES sprang into action. This team, led by Rear Admiral Andrea Quondamatteo, is specially tasked to protect ships and crews in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. They launched a quick and brave search and rescue operation (SAR). The hero of the hour was the vessel MV Meda. It managed to rescue 24 crew members from the flaming vessel! Among those saved were 23 brave Indian sailors, and one Ukrainian. The rescued crew were then escorted safely to the Port of Djibouti, where the Djiboutian Coast Guard took them under protection. Sadly, not everyone was found safe. Out of a total crew of 26, two members remain missing, adding a somber note to this dramatic saga. Meanwhile, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES has warned all nearby ships to keep a safe distance. The MV Falcon is a danger zone because of the ongoing risk of explosion, loaded as it is with LPG. This fiery ordeal reminds us how perilous life at sea can be, especially when hazardous materials are on board. Hats off to the quick, coordinated rescue that saved most of the crew from disaster!

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Tags: Mv falcon, Lpg fire, Indian crew rescued, Yemen coast, Eunavfor aspides, Djibouti coast guard,