Indian Coast Guard Battles Blaze on Cargo Ship, Four Missing

The Indian Coast Guard is relentlessly battling a fierce fire that erupted on the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, MV Wan Hai 503, in the Arabian Sea, just off the coast of Kerala. The ship, en route to Mumbai from Colombo, reported an internal container explosion on Monday, which quickly escalated into a significant blaze.

A total of eighteen crew members have been successfully rescued, some of whom are receiving medical attention for injuries. However, the fate of four crew members – two Taiwanese, one Myanmar, and one Indonesian – remains unknown, prompting Singapore to dispatch a dedicated rescue team to assist in the ongoing search efforts.

The incident has raised environmental concerns, with the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) issuing an alert for the Kerala coast. There are fears of a potential oil spill, as the vessel was reportedly carrying 100 tonnes of bunker oil, and debris, including approximately 50 containers that fell into the sea, drifting towards the shoreline. Footage from Tuesday showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the MV Wan Hai 503 as both the Indian Navy and Coast Guard continued their strenuous efforts to extinguish the persistent fires and explosions.

This marks the second such maritime incident in the vicinity of the Kerala coast within three weeks. Last month, a Liberian-flagged vessel carrying oil and hazardous materials sank in the same waters, leading to a fishing ban and compensation measures for affected local communities, highlighting the ecological fragility of the region which is rich in biodiversity and a key tourist destination.

ref: bbc.com & people spring