India’s southern state of Kerala is on high alert after the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Elsa 3 sank off its coast on Saturday while en route to Kochi from Vizhinjam. The 184-meter vessel, carrying 640 containers—including 13 with hazardous materials and 12 with calcium carbide—issued a distress call before going down.
All 24 crew members, from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Philippines, were safely rescued by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy. Authorities are now closely monitoring the situation due to the vessel’s dangerous cargo and over 450 metric tons of marine pollutants, including diesel and furnace oil, which pose a severe risk to marine ecosystems.
Calcium carbide, one of the substances onboard, becomes highly explosive when in contact with water. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority warned the public of the risk of cargo and oil washing ashore due to strong sea currents.
So far, no oil spill has been detected, but the Coast Guard has deployed advanced spill detection systems and aircraft for aerial monitoring. Marine experts warn that a potential leak could devastate the fishing-rich waters of Alleppey and Kollam, impacting both marine life and local fisheries. Long-term environmental monitoring has been advised in the event of contamination.
