Sri Lanka

UPDATED: Photo Story: Container ship on fire off the coast of Sri Lanka

cde.news desk 26 May 2021, 10:40 · 1 min read

epa09227269 A handout photo made available by the Sri Lankan Air force Media shows the Singapore-registered container vessel MV X-Press Pearl on fire, nine nautical miles northwest of Colombo port in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 25 May 2021. The MV X-Press Pearl carrying 25 tons of nitric acid and several other chemicals from the port of Hazira in India, had arrived in Colombo on 19 May on its way to Singapore. EPA-EFE/SRI LANKAN AIR FORCE MEDIA / HANDOUT HANDOUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES

A handout photo made available by the Sri Lankan Air force Media shows the Singapore-registered container vessel MV X-Press Pearl on fire, nine nautical miles northwest of Colombo port in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The fire broke out on the Singapore-flagged container vessel MV X-Press Pearl anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18km) northwest of Colombo awaiting entry into the port.

The Sri Lanka Navy said the explosion was caused by chemicals being transported on the ship carrying over 1,000 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals from the port of Hazira, India.

The 25-member crew were evacuated by the Navy on 25 May, while two injured members were hospitalized and one was tested positive for Covid-19