Massive fire aboard Singapore-flagged container ship off Kerala coast; rescue efforts stepped up

A major fire aboard a Singapore-flagged container ship carrying flammable and toxic materials continues to rage off the Kerala coast, as rescue teams battle both the flames and the risk of the vessel sinking on Tuesday (June 10, 2025).
The fire broke out on MV Wan Hai 503 on Monday while the ship was en route from Colombo to Mumbai, 78 nautical miles off the Kerala Coast.
Four crew members remain missing, and the search for them is ongoing, according to Defence PRO Atul Pillai.
'Seven ships and five Dornier aircraft are part of the rescue operation. INS Sujatha and Coast Guard vessel Samarth have joined the mission,' he said.
He added that the situation remain critical, with floating containers posing additional hazards.
Water being sprayed
'Yesterday, access to the burning ship was not possible. Today, the Coast Guard managed to approach and begin spraying water. However, the vessel is not floating in a stable position, which complicated the respone.' he said.
Azhikkal port PRO Captain Arun Kumar confirmed that efforts to extinguish the fire had not yet succeeded.
'A specialised salvage team departed from Kochi this morning. Around 25 containers have fallen into the sea. Recovery operation are in progress,' he said, warning that some of the containers may drift toward the Ernakulam and Thrissur coast.
The contents of the burning containers – some reportedly hazardous – have raised environmental concerns. Authorities continue to monitor the movement of the containers and assess the potential risks of pollution and coastal damage.
Meanwhile, the Coastal police in Kannur have cautioned the fishermen to be careful.

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