Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A Russian-linked liquefied natural gas tanker caught fire in the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday following what maritime security sources described as a suspected drone attack, though the cause of the blaze has not been independently confirmed.
The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, was reportedly struck near Malta while carrying LNG cargo. Images circulating online showed large flames engulfing part of the ship and thick smoke rising into the sky.
One security source suggested the tanker may have been hit by a naval drone, with speculation pointing toward possible Ukrainian involvement amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. However, no evidence has been publicly presented to support that claim, and officials have not confirmed the cause of the incident.
Authorities in Malta said they received a distress signal from the vessel and launched a search and rescue response. The Armed Forces of Malta later reported that the crew had safely evacuated into a lifeboat within the Libyan search and rescue region.
“All crew were reported safely onboard the lifeboat,” the military said in a statement, adding that survivors were located during the rescue effort.
There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Ship-tracking data indicated the tanker had last reported its position off the Maltese coast on Monday. The vessel’s Russia-based manager, LLC SMP Techmanagement, along with Russian LNG producer Novatek and Moscow’s transport ministry, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident comes amid heightened global tensions. Over the weekend, a drone also struck the British airbase at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, causing minimal damage and no injuries. British officials have not publicly attributed responsibility, though Cypriot authorities have voiced suspicions toward the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
Investigations into the Mediterranean tanker fire remain ongoing.
