INS Surat and a Dornier aircraft were promptly sent to the scene of a maritime incident. By 1630 hours, INS Surat had successfully rescued 18 crew members, who received immediate first aid. The vessel is now en route to New Mangalore for disembarkation and further medical care.
The ship had a total of 22 crew members from various nationalities: 8 Chinese, 6 Taiwanese, 5 Myanmarese, and 3 Indonesians. An explosion within a container ignited a significant fire, prompting the crew to abandon ship. Currently, four crew members remain unaccounted for, and search and rescue operations are actively underway.
Initial reports suggest that 10 to 15 containers fell overboard during the incident, contributing to a total of 40 containers reported lost. The vessel was traveling from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Nhava Sheva, Mumbai, with an expected arrival date of June 10.
The fire has rapidly spread through the ship’s midsection, leaving it adrift and emitting thick smoke. The ongoing fire presents risks of further explosions and structural damage, complicating rescue efforts.
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