DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An explosion struck a Hong Kong-flagged container ship Tuesday traveling north through the Red Sea, sparking a major fire that forced its crew to abandon the vessel, shipping industry officials said.

The ship was drifting and ablaze some 140 miles off the coast of Hodeida, a port city in Yemen held by the country’s Houthi rebels, said the Diaplous Group, a maritime company.

It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire. The Red Sea has been repeatedly targeted by attacks from the Houthis.

The rebels said last week they were limiting their assaults following a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The crew was rescued unharmed, another maritime official said. — Associated Press