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Kerala Issues Coastal Alert After Cargo Ship Carrying Hazardous Materials Sinks Off Arabian Sea

Authorities in Kerala, India, have issued a coastal alert after a cargo ship carrying oil and hazardous chemicals capsized and sank off the state’s southern coast in the Arabian Sea on Sunday, May 25.

The Liberian-flagged vessel, MSC ELSA 3, was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it began listing dangerously around 38 nautical miles from Kochi. Flooding in one of its compartments ultimately caused the ship to overturn and sink.

The ship was carrying 640 containers, some of which are now drifting toward the coastline. The incident has sparked major environmental concerns as fuel, oil, and potentially dangerous chemicals are believed to have leaked into the sea. The affected area is known for its ecological richness and is a prominent tourist destination.

All 24 crew members on board were rescued in a joint operation by the Indian Navy. However, authorities have warned of the serious environmental and public health risks posed by the drifting containers and oil slick.

“The oil slick could impact any part of Kerala’s coastline,” the chief minister’s office said in a statement. Residents have been advised not to touch any washed-up debris or containers, while fishermen have been instructed to avoid the wreck site.

The Indian Coast Guard has launched a pollution control operation, dispatching a ship equipped with containment systems and an aircraft equipped with oil spill detection technology to monitor the spread.

Officials confirmed that 13 of the containers onboard contained hazardous cargo, and 12 held calcium carbide—a chemical that reacts with seawater to release a highly flammable gas. In addition, the ship was carrying over 84 metric tonnes of diesel and more than 367 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks.

Emergency teams continue to assess the environmental impact, as cleanup and containment operations get underway.

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