UK maritime agency reports explosion, oil spill off Kuwait

AFP

5 Mar, 2026 03:44 AMQuick Read

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Oil tankers are seen anchored near Venezuela. A tanker was hit by a ‘large explosion’ in the waters off Kuwait, causing an oil spill, a British maritime security agency said. Photo / Getty Images

A tanker was hit by a “large explosion” in waters off Kuwait, causing an oil spill, British maritime security agency UKMTO said today, as the United States-Israel war on Iran paralysed Gulf shipping.

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards have said they had “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial
chokepoint into the Gulf and one of the world’s most vital shipping routes for energy.

“The Master of a tanker at anchor, reports witnessing and hearing a large explosion on the port side then seeing a small craft leave the vicinity” off the Gulf state’s Mubarak Al-Kabeer area, UKMTO posted on X.

“There is oil in the water coming from a cargo tank which could have some environmental impact”.

Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said the blast happened “outside Kuwaiti territorial waters”, at least 60km from Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.