Explosive chemicals in container ship, 20 containers in sea, four missing

KOZHIKODE: Reports say the container ship Wan Hai 503, which caught fire en route to Mumbai from Colombo, is carrying explosive chemicals. It is reported that there are four types of chemicals on board, including those that ignite spontaneously. The ship is carrying chemicals that ignite when exposed to air and friction. There are also reports that there are toxic substances in the container ship. There is also information that 20 containers have fallen into the sea.

Five coast guard ships have reached to douse the flames. Soon after the fire, there was an explosion in the ship. The explosion was on the deck. There was a total of 22 people on board the ship. 18 who jumped into the sea have been rescued. Four are missing. Citizens from Indonesia and Myanmar are also among the missing. Some have suffered burns. Five of them are in a critical condition. The captain and others are still on board.

Intense efforts are being made to douse the flames. Five coast guard ships and three aircraft have arrived for the mission. ICGS Rajadoot, Arnavesh and Sachet are in the spot. Ernakulam and Kozhikode district collectors have been directed to make necessary preparations to provide treatment to the ship's crew if they are brought to the Kerala coast.

The ship is 20 years old and 270 meters long. The ship, which left Colombo on June 7 was supposed to arrive at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai at 9:30 am on June 10. There are almost 650 containers on the ship.