Cargo Ship Explodes Near Kerala Coast; Fire Still Raging, 4 Crew Missing

a major explosion happened on a Singapore-flagged cargo ship named MV Wan Hai 503 while it was sailing in the Arabian Sea, near the coast of Kerala. The ship was about 80 to 144 nautical miles away from Kannur when the blast took place. The explosion started in the lower part of the ship where containers were stored, and it quickly caused a large fire.

The ship was carrying over 1,000 containers, and around 157 of them had dangerous chemicals. Some of these chemicals were flammable (can catch fire easily) and toxic (poisonous), such as pesticides and industrial chemicals like nitrocellulose and dimethyl sulphate. Because of the fire and explosion, many containers fell into the sea, raising concerns about pollution in the water.

There were 22 crew members on board the ship. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard worked quickly to rescue them. So far, 18 crew members have been saved, but 4 are still missing. One of the rescued crew members is seriously injured. The missing crew include people from Taiwan, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

Right now, the ship is still on fire and drifting in the sea. Authorities have asked the ship’s owners to bring in experts to control the fire and update them every two hours. The cause of the explosion is not yet known and is still being investigated.

This accident is worrying because just two weeks ago, another cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, sank near the Kerala coast with hazardous materials. Officials are now keeping a close watch on the situation to prevent damage to the sea and coastal areas.