Somali pirates killed five crew members, including three Pakistanis, during a Puntland operation to rescue the hijacked MT Honour 25, authorities said Tuesday.
The Palau-flagged tanker carrying petroleum products was seized by pirates on April 21, about 30 nautical miles off Puntland’s coast. The vessel had 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistani nationals.
Puntland’s Information Ministry said security forces successfully freed the tanker and captured 16 pirates. However, the pirates killed five crew members before the rescue operation began. The victims included three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national.
Four other crew members were injured, including three Pakistanis and one Indian, according to the ministry.
Ansar Burney, head of the Ansar Burney Trust, separately confirmed the deaths and injuries. He said his organisation had repeatedly warned authorities about the danger facing the hostages and urged immediate intervention.
Burney called for the injured sailors to receive proper care and return safely to their families. He also urged authorities to hand over the bodies of the deceased to their relatives.
Among the Pakistani victims was second officer Kashif Umar, a Karachi resident who had spent 25 years working in the merchant navy.
According to the trust, Umar had told relatives during his final conversation that food, drinking water and other essential supplies aboard the tanker were running dangerously low.
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