Breaking News: Attack leaves two oil tankers on fire in Gulf of Oman

UK maritime urges extreme caution after two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, were reportedly attacked near the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.

The occurrence takes place amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran and a high-stakes visit by the Japanese prime minister to Iran.

Less than a month ago, a similar incident took place where four tankers in the region were struck.

Crew members from both tankers, identified as MT Front Altair, an oil tanker chartered by Taiwan's state oil refiner CPC Corp, and Kokuka Courageous, have been evacuated with reports of few sustaining injuries.

 While MT Front Altair was carrying 75,000 tonnes of a liquid hydrocarbon mixture called naphtha valued at $ 30 million, the Kokuka Courageous was carrying methanol.

Wu I-Fang, CPC's petrochemical business division CEO stated that MT Front Altair was "suspected of being hit by a torpedo"

Iranian search and rescue teams picked up 44 sailors from the two tankers and took them to the Iranian port of Jask.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, part of the Royal Navy, earlier said it was aware of an incident in the Gulf of Oman.

"UK and its partners are currently investigating," the group said without elaborating.

U.S. Naval forces are assisting tankers in the Gulf of Oman after receiving two distress calls on Thursday, the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based Fifth Fleet said.