Houthi rebels in Yemen have released a video showing their militants boarding the Greek-owned oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea and detonating explosives across the vessel.
The dramatic footage, which has surfaced nine days after the initial attack on the suezmax vessel run by Delta Tankers, shows multiple explosions being triggered throughout the ship.
The 163 759-dwt Sounion was first assaulted on August 23, prompting the crew to evacuate the 2006-built vessel.
However, last Friday, the Houthis managed to board the crude oil tanker, which was carrying one million barrels of Basrah heavy crude from Iraq, as well as wired-up explosives.
Since the detonation, the Sounion has remained ablaze, with the fires on deck spreading in intensity.
Salvatore Mercogliano, an associate professor of history at Campbell University in the US, has warned that the number of fires on deck has increased from six on Monday to a staggering 15, according to the latest reports.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their actions are in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.
However, their repeated assaults on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, often inaccurately claiming they are targeting ships solely associated with Israel, the US, or the UK, have drawn widespread condemnation.
The attack on the Sounion has sparked fears of a potential oil spill, which could lead to a catastrophic environmental crisis in the region.
The size of the tanker means the environmental damage could be massive, potentially making it the fifth-worst oil spill of all time.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has expressed grave concern about the situation, warning that a spill from the Sounion would pose an extremely serious environmental hazard.
The EU naval force in the region has also cautioned that the damaged tanker remains a navigational risk and a serious threat for regional pollution.
