Photo Story: Fire on MT New Diamond extinguished

A handout photo made available by the Sri Lankan Air Force Media shows the coast guard ships and fireboats battling to extinguish the fire on the Panama-flagged crude oil vessel MT New Diamond off the east coast of Sri Lanka, 06 September 2020.

The MT New Diamond, which was carrying 270,000 metric tons of crude oil from Kuwait, was on its way to the Indian port of Paradip when it caught fire.

Later on Sunday, a Sri Lankan navy spokesman said the fire had been extinguished.

“The fire on the oil tanker has been doused. However we are continuing to spray water in case it reignites,” Captain Indika De Silva told Reuters.

The New Diamond is carrying about 2 million barrels of crude oil, although a senior Sri Lankan navy official said on Friday there was no real risk of a spill.

The fire broke out in the engine room on Thursday morning and spread to the bridge of the ship.

Photos EPA-EFE/SRI LANKAN AIR FORCE MEDIA

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