'It's not safe to move forward': Rescuers abandon efforts to pull burning oil tanker in Red Sea

A European Union naval mission said on Tuesday that rescue workers had abandoned an attempt to tow a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea that had been targeted by Houthi rebels in Yemen because "it is not safe to proceed".

The announcement by the EU's Operation Aspides leaves the oil tanker 'Sunion' stranded in the Red Sea, threatening to spill a million barrels of its oil.

"The private companies responsible for the rescue operation concluded that the conditions were not suitable for the towing operation and that it was not safe to proceed," the EU mission said, without elaborating, adding that "the private companies are now considering alternative solutions."

The EU mission did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the announcement. The safety issue may be due to a fire still burning on the ship — NASA satellites spotted a fire in the area where the Sunion was moored Tuesday.

Meanwhile, there is a threat of attacks by the Houthis, who on Monday targeted two other oil tankers sailing through the Red Sea. The Houthis have indicated they will allow a rescue operation, but critics say the rebels have used the threat of a previous environmental disaster involving another oil tanker off Yemen’s coast to extract concessions from the international community.

On August 21, the Houthis attacked the Greek-flagged tanker with small arms fire, shells and a drone boat. A French destroyer operating as part of Operation Aspedes rescued the Sunion’s 25 Filipino and Russian crew, plus four private security personnel, after they abandoned ship and took them to nearby Djibouti.

Source: Associated Press