Somali pirates have hijacked the oil tanker MT Eureka off the coast of Yemen, according to multiple security officials in the semi-autonomous Puntland region.
The vessel, flagged by Togo, was overrun at 5 AM local time near the port of Qana in the Gulf of Aden. It is now heading toward Somali waters, officials say.
This marks the fourth successful pirate hijacking in two weeks, and the second oil tanker seized in 10 days. On April 22, pirates hijacked the Honor 25, which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu.
The resurgence comes as international navies redirect resources to counter Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, creating a security gap along the Somali coast.