Efforts to control the fire on the MV Wan Hai 503 intensify while environmental concerns rise over oil spills along the Kerala coastline.
**Four Crew Members Missing as Singapore-Flagged Cargo Ship Catches Fire Near Kerala Coast**
**Four Crew Members Missing as Singapore-Flagged Cargo Ship Catches Fire Near Kerala Coast**
Rescue operations continue as a Singaporean cargo ship burns in the Arabian Sea, leaving four crew members unaccounted for.
The MV Wan Hai 503 cargo ship, sailing under the Singapore flag, is currently engulfed in flames off the coast of Kerala, India, after a devastating internal container explosion was reported on Monday. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively engaged in firefighting efforts amidst a large-scale search and rescue operation for the crew. Out of the original 22 crew members, 18 were successfully rescued, but authorities confirm that four remain missing, prompting Singapore to deploy a rescue team.
The fire broke out when the vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India. Visual footage captured on Tuesday reveals large plumes of smoke billowing from the ship, with numerous fires and explosions still detected on board, hampering rescue operations. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has raised alarms about a potential oil spill and floating debris due to the incident, advising caution along the Kerala coastline.
Reportedly, the ship was carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker fuel, and there are concerns that containers that fell overboard could drift toward the coast within the next few days. Kerala's Ports Minister, VN Vasavan, confirmed that at least 50 containers have been lost to sea. This incident marks the second major maritime disaster in the area within three weeks, following the sinking of a Liberian-flagged vessel that carried hazardous materials. The local government previously imposed a fishing ban within a 20-nautical mile radius of the earlier wreck to protect both marine life and the health of local residents. The aftermath of this ongoing crisis raises serious environmental and safety concerns for Kerala, a significant tourist and biodiversity hotspot.
The fire broke out when the vessel was en route from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, India. Visual footage captured on Tuesday reveals large plumes of smoke billowing from the ship, with numerous fires and explosions still detected on board, hampering rescue operations. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has raised alarms about a potential oil spill and floating debris due to the incident, advising caution along the Kerala coastline.
Reportedly, the ship was carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker fuel, and there are concerns that containers that fell overboard could drift toward the coast within the next few days. Kerala's Ports Minister, VN Vasavan, confirmed that at least 50 containers have been lost to sea. This incident marks the second major maritime disaster in the area within three weeks, following the sinking of a Liberian-flagged vessel that carried hazardous materials. The local government previously imposed a fishing ban within a 20-nautical mile radius of the earlier wreck to protect both marine life and the health of local residents. The aftermath of this ongoing crisis raises serious environmental and safety concerns for Kerala, a significant tourist and biodiversity hotspot.
