NewKerala.com

Key Points

Two crew members from the MV Wan Hai 503 explosion remain in ICU at AJ Hospital, with one Chinese national suffering 40% burns. The Indian Coast Guard is battling the fire to prevent an ecological disaster as the vessel drifts near Kerala. Four other rescued crew members are stable but require treatment for facial burns. Authorities are working to tow the ship away from the coast to mitigate further risks.

Key Points: Chinese and Indonesian Crew Need ICU Care After MV Wan Hai 503 Explosion

  • Chinese national with 40% burns in critical condition
  • Indonesian crew member also under ICU monitoring
  • Four others stable but require treatment for facial burns
  • ICG continues firefighting amid environmental risks
3 min read

Require some more time in the ICU: AJ Hospital doctor gives health update of crew members rescued in MV Wan Hai 503 ship explosion

Two crew members with severe burns remain in ICU at AJ Hospital, while others stabilize after the MV Wan Hai 503 ship explosion off Kerala coast.

"Their vitals are stable though they require some more time in the ICU... - Dr. Dinesh Kadam"

Mangaluru, June 12

Following the rescue of 18 crew members in the Singapore-flagged MV Wan Hai 503 ship explosion, six of them were admitted to the AJ Hospital in Mangaluru on Tuesday.

According to plastic surgeon Dr Dinesh Kadam, a Chinese national with 40 per cent burns and an Indonesian citizen in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are being closely monitored. Both patients require more time in the ICU, whereas the condition of the other four crew members is stable.

One of the crew members will be discharged from the hospital, whereas others will stay because of the impact and facial burns caused due to the accident.

"A Chinese national with 40% burns and an Indonesian national are in ICU and are being closely monitored. Their vitals are stable though they require some more time in the ICU... All the other four are stable and one of them is being discharged while the others will stay in the hospital as they have some impact and facial burns", Dr Dinesh Kadam said in a self-made video.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Wednesday winched five salvage team members and an aircrew diver onto the burning Singaporean container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 to facilitate towing operations.

According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence, the vessel, which caught fire off the Kerala coast on June 9, continues to drift south-east within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), approximately 42 nautical miles from Beypore, Kerala.

The vessel is carrying 1.2 lakh metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, posing a serious risk to the marine environment and regional shipping routes.

"Intensive firefighting efforts by ICG have significantly reduced visible flames, with only smoke now seen across the cargo holds and bays. However, the fire remains active in the inner decks and near fuel tanks," the release stated.

"Five ICG ships, two Dornier aircraft, and a helicopter are engaged in the ongoing firefighting mission, supported by two vessels from the Directorate General of Shipping. A salvage team appointed by the ship's owners is working in coordination with ICG, and the Indian Air Force has been requested for additional aerial support," it added.

With the fire yet to be fully extinguished, efforts to establish a towline and pull the vessel away from the coast are underway to prevent a potential ecological disaster. The situation remains critical and is being monitored continuously.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Our doctors and coast guard are doing incredible work! 🙏 Hope the injured crew members recover soon. This shows why we need strong maritime security - imagine if this happened closer to our coastline. The environmental damage could have been devastating.
P
Priya M.
The medical team deserves applause for treating international patients with such care. I'm concerned about the hazardous materials though - we need stricter regulations for ships passing through our waters. Safety first!
A
Amit S.
While I appreciate the rescue efforts, I wonder why the ship was carrying so much fuel (1.2 lakh metric tons!) near our coast. This could have been another environmental disaster like the Mauritius oil spill. Need better international maritime laws.
N
Neha R.
Heart goes out to the injured crew members from China and Indonesia. Accidents at sea are terrifying. Glad our coast guard responded quickly. Hope the families back home know their loved ones are in good hands at AJ Hospital.
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Vikram J.
The coordination between ICG, Navy and Air Force is commendable. But we should charge the shipping company for all rescue costs - why should Indian taxpayers bear this burden? These incidents affect our marine ecosystem.
S
Sunita P.
As someone from coastal Karnataka, I'm relieved the ship is being towed away. Our fishermen's livelihoods depend on clean seas. Prayers for the injured and huge respect to the rescue teams working in dangerous conditions. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳

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