Tue May 27 05:03:34 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Containers Wash Ashore in Kerala Following Shipwreck; Authorities Issue Warnings**

**Thiruvananthapuram, May 27, 2025** – Multiple shipping containers and cargo parcels have washed ashore on the beaches of Anchuthengu, Ayiroor, Varkala, Muthalapozhy, Mampalli, and Idava in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, following the sinking of the Liberian-flagged cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning.

Local authorities have deployed police to secure the area and prevent tampering with the containers, warning of potentially hazardous materials, including calcium carbide, which reacts with water to produce flammable gases. Blue-colored parcels, suspected to contain chemical dyes and textile manufacturing materials, have also been found.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has urged the public to maintain a distance of at least 200 meters from the debris. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information (INCOIS) predicts more containers will reach the Kerala coastline.

The government has issued a ban on fishing activities within a 20-nautical-mile radius of the wreck due to the danger posed by floating debris to passing ships and smaller vessels. The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and maritime authorities have alerted mariners to exercise caution.

The shipping company has engaged a private firm to assist in salvaging the floating containers and those remaining in the sunken vessel. The MSC Elsa 3, en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam, capsized on Sunday after encountering severe weather approximately 38 km southwest of its destination. The incident, attributed to a combination of heavy seas, possible hull leakage, mechanical failure, and unbalanced cargo, led to the ship listing heavily before sinking.

All 21 crew members, including Russian and Filipino nationals, were rescued by the Coast Guard.

Read More