Qeshm island: Twenty-three sailors were safely evacuated Tuesday from a bulk carrier that sustained severe damage in a collision north of Iran's Qeshm Island, local media reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, Iran's Fars News Agency said authorities in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas received a report of a maritime collision early Tuesday. Preliminary investigations revealed that a bulk carrier collided with another vessel at sea, leading to significant damage.

In response to the emergency, a pilot boat and a tugboat were dispatched to the site in coordination with the Hormuzgan Province Maritime Search and Rescue Center. The bulk carrier, carrying 23 sailors, suffered major damage to the middle section of its hull and began taking on water, prompting the captain to order the crew to abandon ship. All crew members were evacuated safely and taken to Qeshm Island, according to the report.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported earlier Tuesday that explosions were heard in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, with additional blasts reported on Kish Island and Qeshm Island. These incidents occurred amid heightened security tensions around the Strait of Hormuz following the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, 2026.

Washington and Tehran had signed a memorandum of understanding in June, including a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Pakistan as a step toward a final agreement to end the war. However, US President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that the ceasefire "is over" following renewed hostilities.