Liberian Cargo Ship Sinks Off Kerala Coast, 100 Containers Lost at Sea, Raising Oil Spill Concerns

National News: A serious incident has been reported 38 nautical miles off the Kerala coast. The Liberian cargo ship MSC ELSA suddenly tilted and sank on Saturday. A total of 640 containers were loaded on this ship, out of which about 13 containers were filled with dangerous chemicals. After the ship sank, more than 100 containers fell into the sea, and now they are floating with the strong currents of the sea, causing great concern in the area.

Threat of oil spill, alert issued in coastal areas

The ship also contained 84 metric tons of diesel and 367 metric tons of furnace oil, which has increased the possibility of an oil spill. The Kerala government has ordered special vigilance in coastal areas. The coastal regions of Alappuzha, Kollam, Ernakulam, and Thiruvananthapuram are likely to face the greatest impact. The oil spill could pose a serious threat to marine life and local fishermen. Therefore, the administration has immediately deployed rescue teams and equipment to stop the oil spill.

Indian Navy and Coast Guard saved 24 lives

The sinking ship had 24 crew members on board, including nationals from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines. Everyone on board was safely rescued through a coordinated operation by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. This swift rescue operation prevented major human loss.

Ban on fishing, safety instructions to local people

Fishing has been strictly prohibited within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the sunken vessel. The authorities have instructed local fishermen and residents of coastal areas to be cautious. They have been instructed not to go close to the containers floating in the sea and to avoid touching them. If the containers reach the shore, immediately inform the administration.

Rescue operation continues amid vigilance

According to the Ministry of Defense, due to water filling in the ship, its balance was disturbed, and it tilted and sank. Immediately after this incident, the Coast Guard started the rescue operation. A Dornier aircraft has been deployed for aerial surveillance of the sea. In view of the gravity of the incident, Kerala Chief Secretary Dr. A. Jayathilak chaired a high-level meeting, activating emergency response measures to safeguard the marine and coastal regions.