Efforts to extinguish a major fire aboard Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503, located about 44 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, continued for a third day on Tuesday. The ship, en route from Colombo to Mumbai, caught fire on Sunday, leading to a large explosion onboard.
Indian Navy ship INS Surat rescued 18 crew members, while four remain missing. Among the rescued, two are critically injured and four suffered minor injuries. The rescued crew has been transported to Mangaluru port, and the injured are undergoing treatment at AJ Hospital, Kuntikana.
Joint Naval & Coast Guard Operation
The Indian Coast Guard vessels Sachet, Samudra Prahari, and Samarth, along with a Dornier surveillance aircraft, are conducting aerial surveys and firefighting operations. The blaze remains active, and a coordinated rescue mission by the Navy and Coast Guard is underway.
Crew Included Chinese and Taiwanese Nationals
Chinese Ambassador to India Yu Jing thanked the Indian Navy and Mumbai Coast Guard for their prompt action. She confirmed that the crew included 14 Chinese nationals and six from Taiwan. “We are grateful for the Indian side’s efforts and pray for the quick recovery of the injured,” she stated on social media.
Oil Spill Warning Issued
Following the fire, the National Centre for Ocean Information Services has issued an oil spill alert for the Kerala coast, as the fire continues to pose environmental risks.
