Explosion Forces Evacuation of Hong Kong-Flagged Ship in Red Sea

The vessel, carrying hazardous cargo, caught fire near Yemen's Hodeida port, with the cause of the explosion still under investigation.

A Hong Kong-flagged container ship traveling through the Red Sea was abandoned after an explosion sparked a fire on Tuesday, leaving the vessel adrift and ablaze.
The incident occurred approximately 140 miles off the coast of Hodeida, a Yemeni port city controlled by Houthi rebels, though the cause of the fire remains unclear.
The ship's crew was rescued unharmed, and maritime officials described the cargo on board as 'dangerous,' though no further details about the cargo were disclosed.
Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, which began in late 2023, have significantly reduced shipping traffic in the region, a vital corridor for global trade worth $1 trillion annually.
The Houthis recently pledged to limit attacks following a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, but shippers remain cautious due to ongoing risks in the area.