Oil tanker 'explodes' off coast of Oman

An explosion ripped through an oil tanker off the coast of Oman on Tuesday, with a search underway to rescue sailors.

Desh Vaibhav was hit by a fire from an unexplained explosion at around 9am as it sailed towards Fujairah in the UAE, according to Shipping Corporation of India.

One person suffered burns and was rescued from the tanker, with three seamen still missing.

The fire onboard the ship has been tackled, but the cause of the explosion has not been determined.

A major spill is not likely, as the tanker was empty when the fire broke out, according to S&P Global Platts.

In September, a Tanzanian ship sank off the coast of Oman, with the sailors rescued. 

Oman is seeking to establish itself as a major shipping hub, with ports developed in the cities of Duqm, Salalah, and Sohar.

The Gulf state is situated on a major shipping route between Asia, Africa and Europe, while much of the world's oil passes by its shores.