Russian LNG Tanker Sinks Off Libya After Explosion

A Russian-flagged liquefied natural gas tanker exploded and caught fire before sinking in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya on Tuesday, with authorities reporting no casualties among the 30 crew members who were safely rescued. The incident occurred approximately 240 kilometers north of the Libyan city of Sirte, in an area between Libya and Malta, according to the Libyan Maritime Authority.

The vessel, identified as the Arctic Metagaz, was carrying about 61,000 tons of LNG when it experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive blaze late Tuesday, the authority stated in a release. The tanker issued multiple distress calls to port and naval officials, prompting a response from nearby forces. All crew members evacuated via life rafts and were transferred to another ship en route to the Libyan port of Benghazi. Maltese armed forces confirmed receiving the distress signal and assisting in locating the vessel, whose last reported position was in the western Mediterranean off Malta's coast.

The Arctic Metagaz had departed from Murmansk in northwestern Russia and was headed toward Port Said in Egypt. The ship belonged to Russia's so-called shadow fleet, a network of...