An explosion observed on board the burning Singapore-flag ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ in the seas off Colombo Port.
All 25 crew members on board the ship were evacuated. Two Indian crew members aboard the ship were admitted to the hospital with injuries, said the Sri Lanka Navy.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has deployed Bell-212 helicopters to drop dry chemical powder on ‘X-Press Pearl’ to douse the fire, said the Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman.
A fire erupted in the container ship ‘X-PRESS PEARL’ carrying Nitric Acid and other chemicals on Thursday afternoon.