EGYPT CONFIRMS DRONE CAUSED FIRE ON TWO GAS VESSELS AT DAMIETTA. (PHOTO).

 Egypt confirms drone caused fire on two gas vessels at Damietta

A drone ​caused the fire that engulfed two gas vessels at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta, the Egyptian cabinet said on Thursday, confirming ‌that the blaze which erupted a day earlier was the result of an attack rather than an accident.

No party has claimed responsibility for the incident which happened not far from the Suez Canal that has become the last safe evacuation route for Saudi oil to global markets.

Authorities were continuing their investigations and taking necessary measures to protect ​Egypt's national security, the cabinet added, Reuters reported.

British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Wednesday that a drone had hit a U.S.-owned gas storage ​tanker at the port, in an initial assessment that raised concerns about a further spread of conflict across the ⁠Middle East.

Three trading sources familiar with the incident said the drone hit floating storage tanker Energos Winter, causing a fire that spread to another ​vessel, Gaslog Salem.

The Energos Winter was reportedly struck on its starboard side, causing a fire that was extinguished, British maritime risk management group Vanguard said.

Egypt's ​petroleum ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the fires at the port were dealt with immediately by firefighting and security teams and caused no injuries or fatalities. Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi went to the site to oversee response efforts, it said.

The Energos Winter is a ‌floating ⁠storage and regasification unit owned by U.S.-based firm Energos Infrastructure. Its technical, safety and commercial operations are managed by Wilhelmsen Ship Management, a Singapore-based subsidiary of Norwegian company Wilhelmsen Group.