The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively engaged in firefighting efforts on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Wan Hai 503, which has been engulfed in flames since Monday after an internal explosion. The ship, which was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India, reported the incident leading to a major inferno on board.
So far, 18 of the vessel's 22 crew members have been rescued, but four individuals remain unaccounted for, including two Thai nationals, one from Myanmar, and another from Indonesia. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has dispatched a team to aid in ongoing rescue operations.
Footage released on Tuesday reveals the ship emitting thick clouds of smoke, while the Coast Guard has confirmed that the fire continues to blaze despite efforts to extinguish it. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of possible oil spills and debris along the Kerala coastline, due to 50 containers reported missing from the vessel.
State authorities are on high alert as the MV Wan Hai 503 was carrying 100 tonnes of bunker oil, and the drifting containers pose a risk of pollutant contamination along the coast. This incident marks the second major maritime occurrence in just three weeks in the region, following the sinking of a Liberian ship that sparked environmental concerns.
Consequently, fishing has been prohibited within a 20-nautical mile radius of the affected area, while the state government has promised compensation to fishing communities impacted by the incidents. Kerala is recognized for its rich biodiversity and is a key tourist destination, further emphasizing the urgency of addressing potential ecological damage from the fire and potential spills.
So far, 18 of the vessel's 22 crew members have been rescued, but four individuals remain unaccounted for, including two Thai nationals, one from Myanmar, and another from Indonesia. The Singapore Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) has dispatched a team to aid in ongoing rescue operations.
Footage released on Tuesday reveals the ship emitting thick clouds of smoke, while the Coast Guard has confirmed that the fire continues to blaze despite efforts to extinguish it. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has warned of possible oil spills and debris along the Kerala coastline, due to 50 containers reported missing from the vessel.
State authorities are on high alert as the MV Wan Hai 503 was carrying 100 tonnes of bunker oil, and the drifting containers pose a risk of pollutant contamination along the coast. This incident marks the second major maritime occurrence in just three weeks in the region, following the sinking of a Liberian ship that sparked environmental concerns.
Consequently, fishing has been prohibited within a 20-nautical mile radius of the affected area, while the state government has promised compensation to fishing communities impacted by the incidents. Kerala is recognized for its rich biodiversity and is a key tourist destination, further emphasizing the urgency of addressing potential ecological damage from the fire and potential spills.
