Yemen's Houthi group denied involvement in Saturday's attack on a Cameroon-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, which left the vessel burning and adrift, reported Saint Petersburg's Port News citing Xinhua.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said the 308,875-dwt crude oil tanker MV Falcon was hit by an unknown projectile about 116 nautical miles east of Aden. The vessel caught fire following the explosion.

Yemen's coast guard confirmed the incident and said the situation was under control after swift rescue efforts. An investigation is underway.

According to EU naval mission EUNAVFOR Aspides, 24 crew members-one Ukrainian and 23 Indians-were rescued and are being taken to Djibouti. Two crew remain missing.

The vessel was sailing 113 nautical miles southeast of Aden when the blast occurred. EUNAVFOR said about 15 per cent of the ship is ablaze and initial signs suggest an onboard accident.

The Gulf of Aden, a vital link between the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, has seen repeated attacks on commercial shipping in recent months. The Houthis have claimed previous strikes as part of their campaign against Israel and its allies.