Fire erupted on the MV Wan Hai 503, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, as it traversed the Arabian Sea en route to Mumbai from Colombo. With four crew members still unaccounted for, the ongoing rescue operations are complicated by fears of an impending environmental disaster.
Cargo Ship Fire Off Kerala Coast: Four Crew Members Still Missing
Cargo Ship Fire Off Kerala Coast: Four Crew Members Still Missing
Rescue operations continue for crew missing after MV Wan Hai 503 fire near India, raising environmental concerns.
The Indian Coast Guard has been tirelessly battling the blaze that sparked from an internal container explosion on Monday. Amidst these efforts, 18 crew members were successfully rescued from the vessel, but the search continues for the missing four. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority is coordinating with local agencies to assist in the recovery operations.
Feedback from local environmental agencies has prompted an alert from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) regarding potential oil spills and debris along the Kerala coastline. As the rescue operations persist, footage shows thick smoke billowing from the cargo ship, with the fire still raging aboard.
Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan reported that approximately 50 containers have fallen into the sea, with the vessel itself carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker oil. Debris from the cargo ship may pose a serious ecological threat to the region, now vulnerable after two similar incidents in just a few weeks. Last month, a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying hazardous materials sank nearby— a situation that led to fishing bans and community compensation measures.
The swift response to this ongoing incident is crucial not just for the missing crew members but also to protect Kerala's rich marine biodiversity and uphold the region as a premier tourist destination.
Feedback from local environmental agencies has prompted an alert from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) regarding potential oil spills and debris along the Kerala coastline. As the rescue operations persist, footage shows thick smoke billowing from the cargo ship, with the fire still raging aboard.
Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan reported that approximately 50 containers have fallen into the sea, with the vessel itself carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker oil. Debris from the cargo ship may pose a serious ecological threat to the region, now vulnerable after two similar incidents in just a few weeks. Last month, a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying hazardous materials sank nearby— a situation that led to fishing bans and community compensation measures.
The swift response to this ongoing incident is crucial not just for the missing crew members but also to protect Kerala's rich marine biodiversity and uphold the region as a premier tourist destination.
