A massive fire broke out aboard the Singapore-flagged cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 on Monday as it traveled from Colombo to Mumbai, prompting a large-scale rescue operation near Kerala’s coastline. The vessel reportedly experienced a container explosion, igniting a blaze that continues to challenge the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. While 18 out of 22 crew members have been rescued, four remain missing. Dramatic footage shows thick plumes of smoke billowing from the ship as firefighting vessels struggle to control the flames.
The missing crew include two Taiwanese nationals, one Indonesian, and one from Myanmar, according to Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), which has dispatched a team to assist with the ongoing efforts. Meanwhile, Kerala’s Ports Minister VN Vasavan confirmed that 50 containers had fallen into the sea, raising fears of environmental damage. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a coastal alert, warning that the drifting debris and potential oil spill may reach Kerala’s shores within three days.
The ship was reportedly carrying around 100 tonnes of bunker oil, further intensifying concerns over marine pollution. This is the second maritime emergency in just three weeks in the Arabian Sea; a previous incident involved a Liberian-flagged vessel leaking hazardous cargo. In response, the Kerala government had imposed a fishing ban across a 20-nautical mile radius and offered compensation to impacted fishermen. The latest crisis poses renewed risks to Kerala’s ecologically rich coastline and its vital tourism industry.
