The Indian Coast Guard is battling a significant fire aboard the Singaporean-flagged container ship MV Wan Hai 503, located about 15 nautical miles off Kerala. The blaze, which began following an explosion reported on Monday morning, has left four crew members missing, while 18 others were rescued with injuries. The ship is currently tilted at a dangerous angle, and explosions continue to be heard more than 24 hours after the initial distress call.
Efforts to control the fire are ongoing, with five Coast Guard vessels deployed to manage the situation. Commandant Amit Uniyal noted that the fire is worsening, with more containers catching fire. Images from the scene depict flames and thick smoke, raising concerns about environmental impacts. An observation vessel is monitoring the situation, but the extent of the damage remains unclear.
This incident follows another serious maritime event off Kerala, where the MSC ELSA 3 sank on May 25, carrying over 600 containers, including hazardous materials. While authorities confirmed that none of the containers that washed ashore contained hazardous cargo, an underwater operation is underway to address the sunken ship’s oil tanks.
