Puntland, Somalia (Running Africa) — Five crew members were killed before security forces in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region retook the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25 from suspected Somali pirates, regional officials said.

Puntland Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade said the dead included three Pakistani nationals, one Indian national and one Myanmar national.

Four other crew members — three Pakistanis and one Indian — were injured.

Authorities have not disclosed how the five crew members were killed or provided details about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

MT Honour 25 Hijacked Off Puntland Coast

The Palau-flagged MT Honour 25, carrying about 18,500 barrels of petroleum products, was seized by six armed men in April while sailing off Puntland’s coast.

There were 17 crew members aboard the tanker when it was hijacked.

Puntland authorities said security forces later regained control of the vessel and captured 16 suspected pirates during the operation. Other suspects escaped and were being pursued.

Officials have not explained how the attackers initially gained control of the tanker.

Puntland Forces Retake Hijacked Oil Tanker

The recovery of MT Honour 25 comes amid renewed concern over piracy off Somalia’s coast, following an increase in maritime attacks after years of significantly reduced activity.

The five deaths appear to be the first reported crew fatalities attributed to Somali piracy in more than a decade.

Somali piracy reached its previous peak between 2008 and 2014, when hijackings and attacks threatened shipping routes around the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.

International naval patrols, improved security aboard commercial vessels and other counter-piracy measures subsequently contributed to a sharp decline in successful attacks.

The MT Honour 25 incident adds to concerns over the recent resurgence of piracy in waters off Somalia, a strategically important maritime corridor connecting the Indian Ocean with major international shipping routes.