Zoya 1 death toll rises to four after rescuers find bodies of two more crew

The Indian consulate in Dubai has confirmed that the bodies of two Indian sailors who were initially reported as missing following the recent fire on the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Zoya 1 have finally been found.

Over the weekend, search and rescue (SAR) teams located the remains of the two deceased crewmen, who are the third and fourth confirmed fatalities in an incident that had claimed the lives of two other Indian sailors while the ill-fated vessel was anchored 33 kilometres off the UAE sheikdom of Sharjah on Wednesday, January 29.

DNA testing will then be conducted to determine the identities of the recently discovered victims as both were reportedly not recognisable.

One more Indian crewman on Zoya 1 remains missing, the consulate added.

No injuries have been reported among the seven remaining Indian crew and the 44 technicians who were on board the vessel when the blaze ignited.

An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.