Fear grows as second Iranian ship, with 100 on board, heads to Sri Lanka a day after submarine attack

This comes as the conflict triggered by the joint US-Israel attack on Iran continues to widen across the Middle East and beyond

• Sri Lanka concerned as second Iranian warship nears its waters
• US submarine sank an Iranian frigate, killing at least 87 sailors
• Sri Lanka to receive remains, treat rescued Iranian crew

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Sri Lankan officials have expressed concern as a second Iranian warship headed towards the country’s territorial waters on Thursday, a day after a US submarine destroyed an Iranian frigate, killing at least 87 sailors.

Authorities are worried that the new vessel could come under an attack.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met senior officials on Thursday to discuss Iran’s request for one of its vessels to enter the safety of Sri Lanka’s waters, according to official sources cited by AFP.

The ship, carrying more than 100 crew members, is feared to be at risk after a sister vessel was sunk by a US submarine off Sri Lanka’s southern coast on Wednesday.

This comes as the conflict triggered by the joint US-Israel attack on Iran continues to widen across the Middle East and beyond.

Media minister Nalinda Jayatissa said the second Iranian warship was just outside Sri Lankan waters, but gave no further details.

Authorities in the southern port city of Galle were preparing on Thursday to hand over the remains of 87 Iranian sailors killed in a torpedo strike claimed by the US military.

Officials at the city’s main hospital said 32 rescued Iranian crew members were still receiving treatment under heavy security provided by police and elite commandos.

The Emergency Treatment Unit was off limits to visitors and other patients, with the medical authorities setting up a separate ward for the Iranians.

"Most of them have minor injuries, but there were a few with fractures and burns," a nurse at the hospital told AFP, without giving her name.

Navy spokesman Buddhika Sampath said that Sri Lankan navy vessels were continuing their search for missing Iranian sailors.

A distress call was issued by the vessel at dawn on Wednesday but it completely sunk by the time a Sri Lankan rescue ship reached the area.

The attack was just 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Galle, the local navy said.