A Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire on Monday while navigating the Arabian Sea near Kerala, India. The ship, which was making its way from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Mumbai, experienced an internal container explosion that ignited a significant blaze on board.
Rescue operations, led by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy, have successfully saved 18 crew members; however, four individuals remain unaccounted for. Among the missing are two members from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one from Indonesia. Singapore has dispatched a rescue team to assist in the efforts.
Authorities have warned of a potential oil spill, as the ship was carrying 100 tonnes of bunker oil. Footage shows plumes of smoke billowing from the vessel as rescue efforts persist. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has reported that 50 containers from the cargo ship fell into the sea, posing a risk of debris drifting toward the Kerala coast within days.
This incident marks the second maritime emergency in the vicinity following the recent sinking of another ship carrying hazardous materials. In response, the state government has prohibited fishing in a 20-nautical mile radius from the shipwreck site and is providing compensation to impacted fishing communities.
Kerala’s coast, known for its biodiversity, is also a major tourist hub, raising concerns about the potential environmental impact of these maritime incidents.
