A Singapore-flagged cargo vessel, Wan Hai 503, caught fire and suffered multiple explosions while en route to Mumbai, resulting in the loss of at least 40 containers into the Arabian Sea and prompting several crew members to jump overboard, authorities confirmed Monday.
The incident occurred approximately 144 kilometers off the coast of Kerala, according to Shekhar Kuriakose, a senior official from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.
“According to preliminary information, there were 22 crew members on board. Eighteen of them jumped into the sea and have been rescued by emergency response boats,” Kuriakose said. He also clarified that the ship remains afloat, though the fire is still ongoing.
Images released by the Indian Coast Guard on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) show the vessel engulfed in thick black smoke, with several containers floating nearby — some believed to have been damaged or ejected by the explosions.
The Indian defense ministry reported that the vessel is still ablaze and adrift, and efforts are underway to fully secure the scene. The cause of the fire and explosions remains under investigation, and officials have yet to confirm what type of cargo was aboard the lost containers.
This incident follows a similar case just last month in the same region, where a container ship sank and released over 100 containers into the sea, although no oil spill was reported.
Authorities are monitoring the area for potential environmental impact, while the shipping company and maritime safety officials conduct a detailed probe into the cause of the blaze.
