By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 20 October 2025 — The Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) assisted in a rescue operation on Sunday following an explosion aboard the Cameroon-flagged vessel MV Falcon, which caught fire and was left adrift while en route to Djibouti.
The incident occurred about 113 nautical miles southeast of the Port of Aden, Yemen. The vessel was carrying 26 crew members — one Ukrainian and 25 Indians — when an onboard explosion caused a fire.
According to DPFZA, 24 crew members managed to abandon the vessel and were rescued by the passing gas carrier MV Meda, which coordinated the rescue with Djiboutian maritime authorities. Two crew members remain missing.
“The rescue operation was executed by the MV Meda, with assistance and coordination from DPFZA,” the authority said in a Sunday statement.
The ASPIDES mission has alerted regional maritime authorities and advised vessels transiting the area to keep a safe distance due to the risk of further explosions, as the MV Falcon was fully loaded with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
DPFZA reaffirmed its commitment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), emphasizing the duty of maritime actors to protect human life at sea.
