Sri Lanka fears massive oil spill as Singaporean container ship X-Press Pearl burns for 7th day
- The fire is believed to have started in a container of nitric acid and rapidly spread, an official said
- With heavy winds battering the X-Press Pearl vessel, authorities fear a new oil disaster on Sri Lanka’s beaches
European firefighters and salvage experts, as well as three Indian vessels on Thursday joined the battle to contain a major fire on a container ship off the Sri Lanka coast, amid fears that it could break up and spew out hundreds of tonnes of oil.
The X-Press Pearl has been blazing out of control for a week and with heavy winds battering the Singapore-registered vessel, authorities fear a new oil disaster on Sri Lanka’s beaches.
Two of the crew sustained leg injuries and they remain in a hospital, the company said, adding that the others were in a quarantine facility in Colombo.
The Indian coastguard ships have joined a Sri Lankan navy ship and four private tugs spraying water on the X-Press Pearl, which has 25 tonnes of nitric acid in its cargo.
Sri Lanka navy chief Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne said the effort to put out the blaze will likely take days.