KOCHI: If you see objects from the cargo ship that sank in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kochi, do not touch them. The disaster management authority has warned that you should not go near it and to immediately call 112 and report it.

It is reported that six to eight containers have fallen into the sea from the ship. If you see the containers, you should be careful to stay at least 200 meters away. Do not crowd. Do not create obstacles while the authorities are moving the objects. Be careful to stay away. The public and media workers should be especially careful, said disaster management authority member secretary Shekhar Kuriakose.

The pollution control board, police and coast guard will take necessary action. It is not known at this time how dangerous this will be for humans. The police have been instructed to monitor the coast. Shekhar Kuriakose clarified that the public is also being informed because it is not possible to reach everywhere.

The ship was carrying 640 containers, including 13 classifieds as hazardous and 12 containing calcium carbide. Additionally, it was carrying 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil, raising serious concerns over potential marine pollution.

The cargo ship MSC Elsa 3 tilted in the Arabian Sea due to bad weather and a whirlpool. 21 of the 24 crew members were rescued by the coast guard and navy in a joint operation at around 8 pm last night. The captain, chief and second engineers who remained on the ship were rescued this morning. The captain is a Russian citizen. The others are 20 Filipinos, two Ukrainian citizens and a Georgian. The incident took place around noon yesterday, 38 nautical miles (70 km) southwest of the Kochi coast. The disaster management authority said that the containers that fell from the ship are more likely to reach Kollam and Alappuzha coasts. There is also a remote possibility of reaching the Thiruvananthapuram coast. People living along the coasts of Alappuzha, Ambalapuzha, Arattupuzha and Karunagappally are advised to be cautious. Containers may wash ashore by this afternoon.