South Korea’s foreign ministry confirmed an explosion and fire struck the HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by Korean carrier HMM Co., while it lay at anchor in waters near the United Arab Emirates in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4. Seoul has not ruled out an attack, and the cause remains under investigation.
HMM NAMU has suffered an explosion and fire. The Korean government says it will closely communicate with relevant countries re: this matter and will take necessary measures to ensure the safety of S. Korean vessels and crew inside the Strait of Hormuz. https://t.co/yZyg7pG9sP pic.twitter.com/87RE3eMmvy
— Raphael Rashid (@koryodynasty) May 4, 2026
Of the 24 crew members aboard, six were South Korean nationals and 18 were foreign nationals. No casualties have been confirmed.
⛴️ A fire and explosion hit the engine room of the HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier operated by South Korea’s HMM, while anchored off Umm Al Quwain in the Strait of Hormuz today.
➤ All 24 crew members—6 South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals—were reported safe, with no… pic.twitter.com/uekHFIgOsI
— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) May 4, 2026
The vessel was anchored outside UAE port limits when the explosion occurred at approximately 8:40 p.m. local time, separating the incident from previous reported strikes in the strait’s main transit corridor. The cause has not been independently verified.
⚔️ STRAIT OF HORMUZ: Fire and explosion reported in the engine room of bulk carrier HMM Namu while anchored off Umm Al Quwain. All 24 crew members reported safe. Cause under investigation — potential external attack, drifting sea mine, or mechanical failure.#StraitOfHormuz #UAE… pic.twitter.com/UO3XIlwkyK
— Threatwhere (@threatwhere) May 4, 2026
President Donald Trump attributed the strike to Iran in a Truth Social post shortly after the incident was reported. “Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it’s time for South Korea to come and join the mission!” he wrote.
Project Freedom is a U.S. Navy operation launched Monday to escort neutral vessels through the strait, which Iran has effectively closed following U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February. The U.S. military reported destroying seven Iranian small boats during the operation after they targeted commercial shipping.
An HMM spokesperson told Reuters the cause of the fire, whether an external attack or an internal incident, remains unclear. South Korea’s foreign ministry said it would “communicate closely with relevant countries regarding this matter and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our vessels and crew members inside the Strait of Hormuz.”
26 South Korean-flagged ships remain stranded in the waterway. South Korea sources roughly 70% of its crude oil and 20% of its liquefied natural gas from the Middle East.
