Massive fire erupts on Singapore-flagged container ship off Kerala coast; Navy, Coast Guard launch rescue ops

A Singapore-flagged container ship caught fire about 144 kilometers off the coast of Beypore in Kerala, prompting a swift rescue operation by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. The incident took place aboard the vessel MV Wan Hai 503, located roughly 78 nautical miles from the Kozhikode district shoreline, according to a defence ministry spokesperson in Kochi.

Initial reports suggest that a series of explosions triggered the fire, causing nearly 40 containers to fall into the Arabian Sea. In the chaos, several of the 22 crew members jumped into the water to escape the flames.

“Shekhar Kuriakose, Secretary of the Kerala Disaster Management Authority, confirmed that 18 crew members managed to abandon the ship and are currently in rescue boats. Efforts are underway to locate and rescue the remaining crew,” he said, adding that the vessel, while badly damaged, is not sinking at this time.

The Indian Navy diverted its warship INS Surat to the site and also planned a helicopter mission from INS Garuda. Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard dispatched multiple assets, including a Dornier aircraft, to support rescue and damage assessment operations.

The vessel remains on fire and is currently adrift in the Arabian Sea.