KOZHIKODE, June 9: The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard on Monday successfully rescued 18 crew members of the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel WAN HAI 503, which caught fire approximately 70 nautical miles off the Kerala coast, officials reported.
The incident occurred deep in the Arabian Sea, off the Beypore–Azhikal coastline of Kerala. According to the latest visuals, flames could be seen raging on the upper deck of the vessel. The fire was first reported by the Indian Coast Guard, prompting an immediate multi-agency response.
While 18 crew members have been rescued after jumping into the sea, authorities are still trying to ascertain the whereabouts of four other crew members who were part of the ship’s Fire and Safety Department.
The 270-metre-long vessel, which has a draught of 12.5 metres, had departed from Colombo on June 7 and was en route to Mumbai at the time of the accident. Following the alert, hospitals in Kozhikode and Kochi have been placed on high alert in anticipation of any medical emergencies involving the rescued crew.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with Dornier aircraft and Coast Guard and Navy vessels dispatched from Kochi and Mangaluru already reaching the site. Additional support vessels are expected to arrive shortly.
Capt K. Arun Kumar, Port Officer at Beypore, confirmed that the ship is carrying dangerous cargo, including inflammable liquids and solids as well as toxic substances. He noted that the rescued crew members are likely to be brought to Beypore for further assistance. Officials also stated that there are no Indian nationals among the crew.
