THE crew of the Hong Kong-flagged container ship ASL Bauhinia abandoned the vessel after it caught fire in the Red Sea near Yemen, reports Reuters.

According to maritime sources, the crew was rescued by another ship and is safe.

The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The ship's manager, Asean Seas Line, has not commented.

The incident comes amid heightened maritime security concerns following Houthi militia threats to target Israel-linked vessels in the region.

Many shipping companies have rerouted vessels around Africa to avoid the Red Sea, despite recent assurances from the Houthis.