25 May 2021 09:45 am
An explosion was reported on board the burning Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ in the seas off Colombo Port.
The Marine Environment Protection Authority said that several containers loaded in the ship had fallen into the sea.
MEPA General Manager Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara said that the MV X-Press Pearl would be moved another 50 nautical miles away from Sri Lanka into deep seas to minimize marine environment destruction.
Meanwhile, the Navy said that all 25 crew members on board the ship were evacuated. Two Indian crew members aboard the ship were admitted to the hospital with injuries.
The fire was reported in one of the containers on board the ship on May 20.
Since then, continual extinguishing operations are being made and it was learnt that fire is still burning beneath the ship's container deck containing nitric acid.
The vessel which is registered under the flag of Singapore, carrying 1486 containers with 25 tons of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India.
The distressed vessel has been manned by a crew of 25 from the Philippines, China, India and Russia.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force deployed Bell-212 to drop dry chemical powder on the vessel.(Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)