Singapore-Flagged Freighter Burns off Kerala, Four Crew Missing
A fire onboard the Singapore-registered cargo ship MV Wan Hai 503 continues to rage in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kerala after a container exploded on Monday. So far, 18 crew members have been rescued, and four remain unaccounted for—two from Taiwan, one from Myanmar, and one Indonesian—according to the Singapore Maritime and Port Authority, which has deployed a response team to assist.
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are actively battling the blaze, which continues to cause further onboard explosions. As part of environmental precautions, the National Centre for Ocean Information Services has issued an alert for potential oil spills and drifting debris.
During initial rescue operations, the 22-member crew abandoned the ship and were safely recovered by Indian vessels; several survivors are undergoing treatment for injuries ashore.
Local authorities report that approximately 50 containers have fallen overboard, and the ship carried around 100 tonnes of bunker oil. The drifting containers and risk of spillage are prompting ongoing monitoring of the coast.
This incident follows a similar maritime accident just weeks ago, when a Liberian-flagged vessel sank in the Arabian Sea near the same region, raising concerns over environmental safety, prompting fishing bans, and sparking compensation schemes for affected coastal communities.
Kerala’s coastline, known for its biodiversity and tourism appeal, remains under close watch as authorities assess both ecological and economic consequences.
