Sri Lanka launches probe into container ship blaze

Sri Lanka on Sunday launched a criminal investigation into a massive container ship fire on the island-nation’s coast,
which has led to fears of large-scale ecological damage, news agency AFP reported. The incident involving the Singapore-registered ship MV X-Press Pearl has led to tonnes of microplastic
granules filling up Sri Lanka’s beaches, resulting in a ban on fishing.

The ship, which was travelling from
India’s Gujarat towards Colombo has been on fire for 11 days as of Sunday. The
25-member crew, who have already been evacuated, are set to be probed on Monday after a complaint
was filed by the country’s Marine Environment Protection Authority.

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Authorities noted last week that the fire originated from a nitric acid leak, something the crew were aware of since
May 11.

“The captain and the crew were
in quarantine, but health authorities have told us that we can question them
from tomorrow,” police spokesperson Ajith Rohana was quoted by AFP as
saying.

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X-Press Feeders, owners of the ship
and an independent common carrier company said the ship’s hull was intact and its
fuel tanks were not affected by the fire.

The ship’s cargo included 25 tonnes of nitric acid, sodium hydroxide and lubricants among other chemicals, most of which was destroyed in the fire.