Cargo ship catches fire off Indian Coast, several crew members missing

A Singapore-flagged container ship, Wan Hai 503, caught fire early Monday while en route from Sri Lanka to Mumbai, forcing crew members to abandon ship off the southern coast of India. The incident occurred approximately 144 kilometers (90 miles) off Kerala’s coast.

According to reports, an onboard explosion triggered the blaze, which quickly spread to multiple containers. The exact cause of the explosion remains unknown. Video footage from an Indian Coast Guard aircraft showed thick black smoke billowing from the vessel.

In a desperate bid to escape the flames, dw.com said, 18 of the 22 crew members jumped into the sea and were rescued by Coast Guard vessels. One of the rescued crew reportedly sustained serious injuries, according to news agencies.

Four crew members — identified as a Taiwanese national, two Indonesians, and one from Myanmar —remain missing. A large-scale search and rescue operation is underway.

The Indian Coast Guard has deployed four ships to manage the emergency and locate the missing sailors.