The Sri Lanka Navy rescued 22 crew members after an oil tanker carrying at least 22 billion barrels of oil caught fire on Thursday (September 3).

A spokesman for the navy of the Indian Ocean nation said the fire had been brought under control, adding that one of its 23 crews was missing and another injured.

Footage shows the Sri Lanka Navy approaching the Panama-flagged New Diamond oil tanker and a crew member being transferred to Sri Lanka Navy vessel.

The New Diamond, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), was heading to the port of Paradeep in India, where the state-run firm operates a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery.

According to reports, there is no damage to the cargo area, only the engine room and some areas around it.

The ship had sailed from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, loaded with Kuwait Export Crude, Refinitiv Eikon tracking data showed.

Sri Lanka's Marine Protection Authority said it would take measures to prevent any possible oil leak from the tanker.

Sri Lanka Navy rescues 22 crew members after an oil tanker carrying at least 22 billion barrels of oil catches fire off the east coast of Sri Lanka.

A spokesman for the navy of the Indian Ocean nation said on September 3 that fire had been brought under control, adding that one of its 23 crew was injured. Navy spokesman Capt. Indika de Silva stated that two Russian warships that were scheduled to arrive at the Port of Hambantota three days ago have left to assist in the relief operation with the approval of the Russian Embassy in Sri Lanka.

The New Diamond, a very large crude carrier (VLCC) chartered by Indian Oil Corp (IOC), was heading to the port of Paradip in India, where the state-run firm operates a 300,000 barrel-per-day refinery.

According to reports, there is no damage to the cargo area, only the engine room and some areas around it.

Another navy spokesman, Commander Ranjith Rajapaksa, said the VLCC was ablaze about 20 nautical miles off the east coast of Sri Lanka and its military had sent an aircraft and two ships to aid in the rescue.

The ship had sailed from the port of Mina Al Ahmadi in Kuwait, loaded with Kuwait Export Crude, Refinitiv Eikon tracking data showed. Sri Lanka's Marine Protection Authority said it would take measures to prevent any possible oil leak from the tanker.

There was no immediate comment from IOC, Reliance Industries and Kuwait Petroleum Corp.