ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER UNFOLDS AS CARGO SHIP CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SINKS OFF INDIA’S COAST
A Liberian cargo vessel loaded with 640 containers, including 13 hazardous cargo units, has capsized and sunk in treacherous waters off Kerala’s sensitive coastline, sparking urgent environmental protection measures and raising fears of ecological catastrophe.
The MSC ELSA 3 listed rapidly in the early hours of May 25th at position 09°18.76’N 076°08.12’E before completely disappearing beneath the waves, according to Coast Guard officials who mounted a dramatic rescue operation.
All 24 crew members have been successfully rescued in a heroic operation involving INS Sujata, with the final three crew members abandoning the sinking vessel just before it went under. The international crew included one Russian master, 20 Filipinos, two Ukrainians, and one Georgian national.
The sunken vessel is now a ticking environmental time bomb, carrying 84.44 metric tons of diesel and 367.1 metric tons of furnace oil in its tanks. Among the 640 containers, 13 contained hazardous materials, while another 12 held dangerous calcium carbide.
Coast Guard officials have positioned the pollution response vessel Saksham at the disaster site, equipped with advanced spill containment technology. Aircraft with cutting-edge oil spill mapping capabilities are conducting continuous aerial surveillance of the affected area.
Kerala’s pristine coastline, renowned for its vibrant marine biodiversity and crucial tourism industry, now faces potential devastation. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued urgent warnings to residents, cautioning against touching any cargo containers or oil that may wash ashore.
The 184-meter vessel had departed for Kochi from Vizhinjam port on Friday when disaster struck. At 1:25 PM on May 24th, the ship’s operators frantically contacted Indian authorities reporting a dangerous 26-degree list and requesting immediate emergency assistance.
Coast Guard and Navy vessels remain stationed at the scene, maintaining round-the-clock monitoring as environmental teams prepare for potential oil spill scenarios along one of India’s most ecologically sensitive coastlines.
Source: moneycontrol.com