Mon May 26 10:23:07 UTC 2025: **Headline: Kerala Coast on High Alert After Cargo Ship Sinks, Posing Oil Spill and Hazardous Material Threat**
**Thiruvananthapuram, May 26, 2025** – The Kerala government has declared a high alert along its coastline following the sinking of the cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 near the Kochi outer harbor. The incident raises serious concerns about a potential oil spill and the presence of hazardous materials in the containers that were on board.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convened an emergency high-level meeting on Monday to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts. He assured the public that all necessary precautions and emergency measures are being taken by various departments and national agencies.
The vessel, carrying 643 containers (73 empty), sank approximately 14.6 nautical miles from the Thottappally spillway. Worryingly, 13 containers hold hazardous materials, including calcium carbide, which can ignite upon contact with water. Fuel leakage from the ship has also been reported.
As of Monday morning, nine containers have washed ashore across several districts, including Kollam and Alappuzha. The public is strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and avoid approaching or handling any containers or unidentified objects found on the coastline. Sightings should be reported immediately by dialing 112.
All crew members have been safely rescued.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has deployed two vessels and a Dornier aircraft to contain the oil spill. The ICG is the nodal agency coordinating oil spill response efforts and is managing the situation with national resources.
The government has issued weather-related warnings to fishermen and advised them to avoid fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the accident site. Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are being deployed in southern districts to handle the removal of washed-up containers. Additional RRTs from the Pollution Control Board are being mobilized to address potential oil spills on the coast.
Chief Minister Vijayan has directed the preparation of an action plan, in collaboration with the Coast Guard, Navy, Forest Department, and Factories and Boilers Department, to manage potential risks associated with oil or ship fuel settling on the seabed.
All districts and relevant departments have been given specific directives to manage the containers washing ashore, the oil spill, and the possibility of oil settling on the seabed.
**About the Source**
This news article is based on reporting from *The Hindu*, an Indian newspaper. *The Hindu* also publishes *The View From India*, a column looking at world affairs from an Indian perspective. The paper covers a wide range of topics, including technology ( *Today’s Cache*), science (*Science For All*), data analysis (*Data Point*), health (*Health Matters*), and books (*The Hindu On Books*). It also provides news and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming through *First Day First Show*. *Karnataka Today* provides a daily dose of news highlights from Karnataka.
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