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Added on the 26/05/2021 12:58:36 - Copyright : AFP EN
Up to three billion plastic pellets have already been released into the sea from the vessel.
Colombo, Jun 3 (EFE/EPA).- A cargo ship carrying chemicals onboard has finally sunk nearly two weeks after it caught fire off the Sri Lankan coast, sparking worries of the an impending marine disaster on the island.The ship sank on Wednesday but not before generating potentially toxic slurry waste into the sea, leaving the authorities with more pressing concerns about an oil spill and the possible toxic effects on marine life.Officials told EFE on Thursday that they were bracing for a possible catastrophic oil spill and extensive marine pollution due to the gutted Singapore-registered X-Press Pearl vessel on fire since May 20. (Camera: CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE).SHOT LIST: THE AFTERMATH OF SINGAPORE-FLAGGED CONTAINER SHIP EXPLOSION NEAR COLOMBO, SRI LANKA.
A burnt-out container ship off the Sri Lankan coast is sinking, with several hundred tonnes of oil still in its fuel tanks, according to the navy. The MV X-Press Pearl was carrying hundreds of tonnes of chemicals and plastics.
Colombo, Jun 2 (EFE/EPA).- A cargo ship with chemicals on board that has been on fire for the last nearly two weeks off the Sri Lankan coast sank Wednesday, officials said, sparking fears over a catastrophic oil spill and extensive marine pollution."The ship has already sunk. Only the forward part is floating. That will sink too. Our main concern is an oil spill. We are doing what we can to contain any oil spill," Sri Lanka Navy spokesperson Captain Indika de Silva told EFE. (Camera: CHAMILA KARUNARATHNE).SHOT LIST: SMOKE RISES FROM THE FIRE GUTTED AND CRIPPLED CONTAINER CARGO VESSEL MV X-PRESS PEARL IN SRI LANKA.
A burnt-out container ship that has already caused Sri Lanka's worst maritime environmental disaster was sinking Wednesday with several hundred tonnes of oil still in its fuel tanks, the navy said. The MV X-Press Pearl, carrying hundreds of tonnes of chemicals and plastics, burned for 13 days within sight of the island's coast before rescue workers finally managed to extinguish the blaze on Tuesday.