The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two explosions near a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with vessel-tracking data showing a severe drop in maritime traffic through the vital waterway.
According to UKMTO, the delayed report indicates that the incident occurred 9 nautical miles southeast of Kumzar, Oman. The tanker’s captain confirmed hearing two underwater or near-vessel explosions. The ship and its crew remain unharmed, with no environmental damage reported. Further details regarding the origin of the blasts were not disclosed.
Tracking firms provided varying figures for traffic through the strait on Wednesday, August 5, 2026:
Kpler (via Reuters): Reported that only two vessels transited the strait on Wednesday: a Panama-flagged coal carrier entering the Persian Gulf and a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship exiting. Eight ships were reported to have passed through on Tuesday, August 4.
Windward: Recorded 12 vessels transiting on Wednesday, with six entering the Persian Gulf and six heading out towards open waters. Prior to the recent disruptions, daily traffic averaged between 120 and 150 ships.
