Debris from Fire-Hit Cargo Ship MV Wan Hai 503 Washes Ashore in Kerala

Alappuzha/Kochi, Jun 16 (PTI) - A week after the Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire off the Kerala coast, a container and a lifeboat from the vessel have washed ashore in Alappuzha district. Officials raised concerns that more debris might reach the coast in the coming days. The container, believed to be empty, and the lifeboat were found near the Kakkazhom area. Alappuzha District Collector Alex Varghese, who visited the site, stated that both the State Disaster Management Authority and the shipping company were informed. He added that the items would be removed by a salvage team. Customs authorities have been alerted to carry out the necessary formalities. This development has sparked fears that additional containers could drift ashore along the Alappuzha and Ernakulam coasts on June 17 and 18. Meanwhile, defence sources reported that the cargo vessel is currently being towed by professional salvors appointed by the ship's owner. The MV Wan Hai 503 is now about 45 nautical miles off the coast, in open waters approximately 1,000 metres deep. Minor fires are still visible in two or three areas of the vessel, with smoke continuing to rise. Indian Navy and Coast Guard ships remain on the scene, closely monitoring the situation and are ready to provide assistance if required. The Singapore-flagged ship caught fire last Monday following an explosion in one of its containers. Of the 22 crew members on board, 18 were rescued, while four remain missing.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)