India races to contain oil spill after container ship sinks off Kerala coast
World
India races to contain oil spill after container ship sinks off Kerala coast
(AFP) - India’s coastguard raced on Monday to contain an oil spill from a container ship with hazardous cargo that sank off the southern coast a day earlier, Kerala’s state government said.
The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3, listed as a 184 meter freight ship, went down off the coast of Kerala on Sunday, with all 24 crew members rescued.
It was carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous cargo and 12 containing calcium carbide, a chemical used for fertiliser production and steelmaking. The vessel also contained some 370 tonnes of fuel and oil.
“The Coast Guard is taking action to prevent the spread of oil using two ships,” Kerala’s government said in a statement.
“The work of spraying dust to destroy the oil is in progress using a Dornier aircraft”.
The government has put coastal areas on high alert and warned people not to touch or approach any containers — some of which have already washed up along the coast.
The ship was sailing between the Indian ports of Vizhinjam and Kochi when it ran into trouble on Saturday and issued a distress call.
