KOLLAM: The container that broke loose from the Cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 in the Arabian Sea washed ashore near Kollam coast by late Sunday night. The container hit the shore at Cheriazheekal, Karunagappally, Kollam. High-ranking officials including the Kollam Collector have reached the spot.

One of the containers that fell into the sea hit the shore near the football ground near the Cheriazheekkal temple in Kollam at around 10:30 last night. The locals spotted it and informed the police about the same. An inspection conducted by the police and the fire force revealed that the container was empty.

MSC ELSA 3, which tilted in the sea, had a total of 643 containers. Of these, 73 were empty and 13 contained dangerous goods, including calcium carbide. This is stated in a public advisory issued by the Chief Commissioner of Customs, Thiruvananthapuram Zone. The advisory also states that calcium carbide reacts with water to release acetylene gas.

“It is reported that six to eight containers have fallen from the ship into the bay. If you see a container, be careful to stay at least 200 meters away. Do not create obstacles while the authorities are moving the materials. The public and media personnel should be especially careful,” said Shekhar Lukose Kuriakose, Member Secretary of the Disaster Management Authority.

On Sunday, Cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 tilted in the Arabian Sea amid rough weather and turbulence. Ten containers filled with marine gas oil and very low-sulfur fuel oil fell into the deep sea.

Out of 24 crew members, 21 were rescued around 8 PM through a joint operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy. The captain is a Russian national, while the others include 20 Filipinos, 2 Ukrainians, and 1 Georgian.

The incident occurred yesterday around noon, 38 nautical miles (about 70 km) southwest of the Kochi coast. Marine gas oil and sulfur fuel oil are hazardous substances. The Disaster Management Authority has warned that the containers, which might drift toward the Kerala coast, should not be touched under any circumstances.

The feeder vessel, carrying 600 containers, had departed from Vizhinjam International Seaport on Friday evening, heading toward Kochi. It had arrived in Vizhinjam from Thoothukudi, offloaded some containers there, and then took on others from the mother ship. The ship was scheduled to arrive in Kochi Port by 4:30 PM on Sunday, but encountered the accident at 1:25 PM, as it neared the Kochi coast.