Kerala on High Alert Following Capsized Ship Spilling Hazardous Cargo

A Liberian-flagged cargo ship has capsized off Kochi's coast, leading to a spill that poses risks to human health and marine ecosystems. The ship’s crew was rescued, but local authorities are on alert for additional contamination and have issued safety warnings to residents and fishermen.

Authorities in Kerala are currently on high alert following the recent capsizing of a cargo ship carrying hazardous materials, which has resulted in an oil spill off the coast of Kochi. The Liberian-flagged vessel capsized in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, posing a significant environmental risk to the region, vital for its biodiversity and tourism.

All 24 crew members were safely rescued; however, some of the 640 containers that the ship carried have begun to drift toward the shoreline. This alarming development has led to widespread evacuations as officials worry about the dangers posed by leaked oil, fuel, and other harmful substances. The chief minister's office has communicated that the potential oil slick could impact various coastal areas, prompting an alert for residents nearby. Authorities have instructed locals not to engage with any containers or oil that may wash ashore and have warned fishermen to keep a safe distance from the site of the incident.

In response to the situation, pollution control measures are being ramped up. The Indian Coast Guard has dispatched a vessel equipped for pollution control to the site of the spill and is utilizing an aircraft fitted with an oil spill detection system to assess the extent of the leak. The cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, was en route from Vizhinjam port to Kochi, where it began to list perilously approximately 38 nautical miles from the coast. It eventually capsized due to flooding within its compartments.

Authorities have reported that the ship was loaded with hazardous materials, including 13 containers featuring dangerous cargo, along with 12 containers of calcium carbide, a substance known to react dangerously when it comes into contact with seawater. In addition, the ship contained significant amounts of diesel and furnace oil, making the need for urgent action to contain the spill even more pressing.