ICRC ship blasted by mine

ICRC ship blasted by mine

COLOMBO (AFP): A cargo and passenger ship chartered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was blasted in northern Sri Lanka leaving one Indonesian crew-member missing, official sources said.

The ship, the Sea Dancer, was entering the government-held port of Kankesanthurai when it hit a sea mine planted by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the sources said.

The ICRC chartered Sea Dancer operated by an Indonesian crew was entering the port for security clearance when it was hit by the mine, the source said adding that the navy immediately launched a rescue operation.

"They have not been able to account for one crew member. At least two others are wounded. There were two foreigners who have now been evacuated the Palaly airbase," the source said.