A ship carrying hazardous cargo, including oil and a chemical that reacts with seawater to release a flammable gas, capsized off the coast of Kerala in southern India on Sunday. The Liberian-flagged vessel sank near Kochi city, prompting an alert from authorities due to concerns over the potential health risks and environmental damage.
All 24 crew members were rescued by Indian navy personnel after an hours-long operation. However, some of the ship’s 640 containers have drifted towards the shore, causing evacuations in the area. Authorities fear that oil, fuel, and other hazardous substances leaked from the ship could endanger marine life and residents’ health.
The Indian Coast Guard has deployed a ship carrying pollution control equipment to the site and sent an aircraft with an oil spill detection system to survey the area. Officials have intensified pollution control measures to contain the spill, which is believed to be around 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil.
Residents living near the sea have been advised not to touch any containers or oil that may wash up on shore, while fishermen have been asked to avoid venturing too close to the sunken ship. The area’s biodiversity and tourism industry are also at risk due to the spill.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdd2mr388ypo