Inferno at Sea: Cargo Ship Erupts in Flames Near Kerala's Shores

Kochi, India, June 9 – A recent report from Reuters highlights a dramatic incident involving the cargo ship WAN HAI 503, which was en route to Mumbai when it experienced multiple explosions and fires. This unfortunate event occurred approximately 144 kilometers off the coast of Kerala, leading to the loss of 40 containers into the Arabian Sea and prompting several crew members to leap overboard for safety.

Shekhar Kuriakose, who oversees disaster management in Kerala, shared that there were 22 individuals aboard at the time of the incident. Out of these, 18 managed to escape into rescue boats while efforts continued to ensure their safety.Thankfully, he noted that the vessel is not currently at risk of sinking.

Images and videos released by India’s coast guard on social media depicted thick black smoke billowing from the ship alongside scattered containers near where flames were visible. A spokesperson for the defense ministry confirmed via social media that “the vessel is currently ablaze and adrift.”

Details regarding what caused these explosions or what type of cargo was being transported remain undisclosed by officials. Interestingly, this isn’t an isolated case; just last month another container ship sank off Kerala’s coast after losing around 100 cargo containers without any reported oil pollution following that mishap.This situation raises questions about maritime safety protocols and emergency response measures in place for such incidents. as global trade continues to expand thru shipping routes like those in India’s coastal waters, ensuring robust safety standards becomes increasingly critical.

(Reporting by Jose Devasia; Writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Mark Potter)