China has thanked the Indian Navy and Mumbai Coast Guard for their swift rescue of eight Chinese nationals from the container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, which caught fire after explosions near the Kerala coast. The vessel, flagged in Singapore, experienced the incident approximately 44 nautical miles off Azhikkal on June 9, involving a total crew of 22, 14 of whom are Chinese, including six from Taiwan.
According to Yu Jing, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, the vessel was en route from Colombo to Nhava Sheva when an explosion ignited a fire under deck in the Arabian Sea. Of the crew, 18 members managed to jump overboard and were rescued, but four crew members who initially attempted to fight the fire are missing. Additionally, five crew members sustained injuries, with two suffering severe burns.
The MV Wan Hai 503 is currently adrift, and firefighting operations continue as the Indian Coast Guard works to manage the situation. Although the fire in the forward bay is now under control, significant smoke persists. The Coast Guard reported that the vessel is listing between 10 to 15 degrees to port, with more containers lost overboard amid ongoing firefighting efforts.
