Submarine reportedly attacks Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka: over 100 people missing

Iranian frigate IRIS Dena has sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka following a reported submarine attack; at least 101 people are reported missing, according to Reuters.

Source: Reuters, citing sources in Sri Lanka's Navy and defence ministry

Quote: "Sources in ​Sri Lanka's navy and defence ministry said the vessel ⁠had been attacked by a submarine and at least 101 ​people were missing in the incident that took place off ​Sri Lanka's Indian Ocean coast."

Details: According to the agency's sources, the ship has sunk. It is currently unknown who carried out the attack.

A spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Navy said reports that 101 people were missing are not true. According to the spokesperson, 32 people injured in the incident were rescued by the navy and are receiving treatment at a state hospital in the southern port city of Galle.

The spokesperson added that the navy had received a distress signal from the Iranian vessel and alerted the Sri Lanka Air Force, after which the two services launched a search-and-rescue operation.

Sri Lankan forces are focused on saving lives aboard the Iranian ship and will later investigate the cause of the incident, the spokesperson said.

The person also added that Sri Lankan forces had not detected any other ships or aircraft in the area of the incident.

"We are hopeful we can rescue ​more people and will continue (operations) until we are sure," the spokesperson said.

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