NewKerala.com

Key Points

A major explosion rocked the Singapore-flagged MV WAN HAI 503 near Kochi, leaving four crew missing and five injured. The Indian Coast Guard swiftly deployed ships and aircraft to battle the blaze and search for survivors. Thick smoke continues to billow from the container vessel, which is now listing dangerously at sea. Rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities work to stabilize the situation.

Key Points: Explosion on Singapore Ship MV WAN HAI 503 Near Kochi Leaves 4 Missing

  • Explosion caused fire & container loss on Singapore vessel
  • 4 crew missing, 5 injured in incident
  • ICG deploys 4 ships & aircraft for rescue
  • Vessel listing with thick smoke still visible
2 min read

Explosion on Singapore-flagged vessel near Kochi; 4 crew missing, 5 injured

Indian Coast Guard rescues 5 injured after explosion on MV WAN HAI 503 off Kerala coast, with 4 crew still missing as firefighting continues.

"Quick response by India Coast Guard after explosion on Singapore-flagged MV WAN HAI 503, 130 NM NW of Kerala coast. – Indian Coast Guard"

Kochi, June 10

Four crew members were reported missing and five injured after an explosion under deck was reported onboard MV WAN HAI 503 while it was on passage from Colombo to Nhava Sheva. Indian Coast Guard ships have been deployed for firefighting and rescue operations.

According to the Indian Coast Guard, following the explosion on Monday, four crew members were reported missing, and five others sustained injuries. The vessel was carrying containerised cargo and had a total crew 22 onboard. CGDO on task diverted for assessment

Indian Coast Guard units were immediately diverted for assessment and assistance. ICGS Rajdoot off New Mangalore, ICGS Arnvesh off Kochi, and ICGS Sachet off Agatti have been diverted for assistance.

In a post on X, the Indian Coast Guard said an ICG aircraft assessed the scene and dropped an air-droppable.

"Quick response by India Coast Guard after explosion on Singapore-flagged MV WAN HAI 503, 130 NM NW of Kerala coast. ICG aircraft assessed the scene & dropped air-droppable. 04 ICG ships diverted for rescue."

Fires and explosions have been reported from mid-ships to the container bay ahead of the accommodation block. The forward-bay fire is under control, but thick smoke continues to be observed. The vessel is listing approximately 10-15 degrees to port, and additional containers have been reported overboard.

Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Prahari and Sachet are conducting fire-fighting operations and boundary cooling, while ICG ship Samarth, along with salvors, is being deployed from Kochi.

Further updates will follow, the Coast Guard PRO added.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Our Coast Guard is doing a fantastic job responding to this emergency! 🇮🇳 Proud of their quick action. Hope the missing crew members are found safe soon. This shows why we need strong maritime security in our waters.
P
Priya M.
Very concerning incident near our coast. The explosion seems serious if they've deployed multiple ships. Does anyone know what cargo was being transported? We should have stricter safety checks for vessels passing through Indian waters.
A
Arjun S.
Kudos to ICG for their swift response! 👏 But we must ask - why so many maritime incidents near Kerala coast recently? Need better monitoring systems. Also, hope our fishermen are alerted about the containers overboard - could be dangerous.
S
Sunita R.
My prayers for the missing crew members and their families. Such incidents remind us how dangerous sea voyages can be. The Indian Coast Guard's efficiency gives me hope though. They've handled many such crises before.
V
Vikram J.
While our response is commendable, we should also investigate if proper safety protocols were followed on the vessel. Too many shortcuts in maritime transport these days. Hope this isn't another case of negligence putting lives at risk.
N
Neha P.
The ship was coming from Colombo... hope this isn't anything suspicious given recent security concerns in the region. But great to see our Coast Guard on high alert and responding professionally. Stay safe everyone! 🙏

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50