Massive Fire Erupts on Cargo Ship off Kerala Coast; Dozens of Containers Lost to Sea
Malabar — A cargo vessel sailing toward Mumbai was engulfed in flames on Monday following a series of explosions off the southern coast of India, forcing crew members to abandon ship and sending dozens of containers tumbling into the Arabian Sea.
The Singapore-flagged WAN HAI 503, which was approximately 144 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Kerala state, encountered the emergency while en route to India’s commercial capital. The incident triggered a swift response from maritime authorities.
According to Shekhar Kuriakose, Secretary of Kerala’s Disaster Management Authority, there were 22 crew members on board at the time of the explosions. “Eighteen crew members jumped into the sea and are currently being rescued by emergency boats,” he said. “The ship is not sinking at present, but it remains on fire and adrift.”
The Indian Coast Guard released visuals on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), showing the vessel enveloped in thick plumes of black smoke, with several containers scattered and visibly damaged near the origin of the fire.
A Defence Ministry public relations officer confirmed, “The vessel is presently on fire and drifting without control.”
At least 40 containers have fallen overboard into the sea due to the impact of the blasts. The precise nature of the cargo within those containers remains unknown. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosions or provided details about potential hazardous materials.
Ongoing Rescue and Containment Efforts
Search and rescue operations are underway in coordination with Indian Coast Guard units, which are also working to control the fire and secure any drifting cargo. Naval vessels equipped with firefighting capabilities have been dispatched to the area, officials said.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and all efforts are focused on ensuring the safety of the crew and preventing any environmental fallout,” an official with the Kerala Maritime Board told Al Arabiya English.
Despite the intensity of the fire, officials said the structural integrity of the vessel was still holding as of Monday evening. The incident has raised concerns about marine pollution and safety protocols aboard container ships operating in Indian waters.
Maritime Safety in Focus
The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities of large cargo vessels navigating crowded sea routes between the Persian Gulf, South Asia, and East Asia — particularly in monsoon-prone months where maritime accidents tend to rise.
While India is no stranger to maritime emergencies, the scale and visibility of Monday’s event is likely to prompt new scrutiny on international cargo routes, emergency response coordination, and inspection protocols for hazardous materials aboard merchant ships.
Further investigation is expected once the fire is brought under control and the remaining crew members are safely accounted for.
