The Indian Coast Guard provided an update regarding ongoing firefighting and search efforts for a container ship that caught fire following an explosion on June 9. In collaboration with the Indian Air Force, they successfully air-dropped approximately 4,000 kg of dry powder extinguishers onto the flames engulfing the vessel’s cargo holds and containers. This intervention has reportedly led to a “significant reduction” in the intensity of the blaze.
The fire initially sparked in the fore section of the ship due to an explosion within the cargo containers and quickly spread throughout the vessel. Rescue efforts have been challenging, particularly with four crew members still unaccounted for. Fortunately, out of the 22 crew members, 18 were rescued from the ship, although six sustained injuries—two of whom suffered critical burns covering 35% to 40% of their bodies.
In response to the incident, the Coast Guard has deployed seven of its vessels to the scene for boundary cooling operations aimed at controlling the fire and the ongoing search and rescue activities. The situation remains dynamic as efforts continue to locate the missing crew members amid the challenges posed by the fire and the conditions at sea.
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