Authorities in southern Kerala, India, have declared a coastal alert after a cargo ship carrying oil and hazardous materials capsized and sank off the state’s coast in the Arabian Sea.
The incident occurred early Sunday May 25, when the Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3, en route from Vizhinjam port to Kochi began tilting dangerously about 38 nautical miles from Kochi, Flooding in one of its compartments led to the vessel capsizing.
The spill occurred in a Liberian-flagged vessel that capsized near Kochi city on Sunday. The coastal stretch is rich in biodiversity and is also an important tourist destination.
All 24 crew members aboard were rescued in a joint operation by Indian Navy personnel. However, the ship was carrying 640 containers, some of which are now adrift and approaching shorelines, prompting evacuations in affected areas.
Authorities fear that oil, fuel and other harmful substances that have leaked from the ship and its cargo could endanger the health of residents and marine life.
“As the oil slick can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, an alert has been sounded across the coastal belt,” a statement from the chief minister’s office said.
Kerala’s chief minister’s office warned that the oil slick could reach any part of the state’s coastline and advised residents not to touch any washed-up containers or oil, while fishermen are advised to steer clear of the wreck site.
On Monday, officials said they had intensified pollution control measures to contain the spill.
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed a ship carrying pollution control equipment to the site.
It has also sent one of its aircraft which has an oil spill detection system to survey the area.
The Indian Coast Guard said that the ship was carrying 13 containers of hazardous cargo and 12 with calcium carbide, a chemical that reacts with seawater to release a flammable gas.
“Additionally, the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks,” it said.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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