Three Indonesian Nationals Missing in Strait of Hormuz; Coordinating Ministry Mobilises Inter-Agency Response

Jakarta — The Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment is continuing coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers to monitor developments in the search for three Indonesian crew members reported missing in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Deputy for Community Economic Empowerment and Migrant Worker Protection at the Coordinating Ministry is continuing coordination with the Foreign Ministry and the Migrant Workers Protection Ministry to monitor,” said Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar in Jakarta on Monday.

Previously, three of four Indonesian crew members were reported missing following an incident in which the tugboat Musaffah 2 exploded and sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (6 March). One Indonesian national was reported to have been rescued, though suffering injuries.

The three missing Indonesians were crew members of the Musaffah 2, a vessel flying the United Arab Emirates flag.

The explosion and sinking occurred as Iran decided to close the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical oil export route, connecting major Gulf oil producers including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

However, the strait has become one of the most tense regions in the Middle East as tensions escalate between Iran and the United States-Israel alliance.