Twenty Thai crew members are home after their cargo ship was attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, with three colleagues still missing on the damaged vessel.

BANGKOK: Twenty Thai crew members of a cargo ship attacked in the Strait of Hormuz arrived home on Monday. Three of their colleagues remain stranded on the damaged vessel in the Gulf.

The Thai-registered Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles last Wednesday. The vessel was transiting the crucial waterway after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated they struck the Thai ship and a Liberia-flagged vessel for ignoring “warnings”. The 20 sailors landed at Suvarnabhumi airport early Monday and were escorted away by officials.

The wife of one returned crew member expressed her fear and uncertainty. “We are all afraid, but they are employees — if they refuse to go (out to sea), they won’t get paid,” said the woman, who gave her name as Bass.

She added that the company had not provided information on their whereabouts or return. The vessel’s owner, Precious Shipping, said its highest priority was locating the three missing crew members.

The company believes the three are trapped in the damaged engine room. It pledged to provide welfare support, including medical and mental health assessments, for the returned crew.

Thailand is seeking assistance from two other nations to rescue the stranded trio, according to foreign ministry deputy spokeswoman Maratee Andamo. The Omani navy rescued the 20 sailors last Wednesday.

The attack occurred amid heightened regional tensions. Strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran ignited the Middle East war more than two weeks ago.

Iran has since launched attacks against its oil-exporting neighbours. These strikes threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a passage for about a fifth of global oil supplies.

The conflict has plunged the global energy economy into crisis.

 The Sun Malaysia