Ship on fire off Sri Lanka: criminal investigation opened
The container ship "MV X-Press Pearl" (pictured) is still on fire off Colombo.
- SRI LANKA AIR FORCE / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
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It's been eleven days since a wrecked container ship burned off the coast of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka.
While an oil spill is not excluded, millions of tons of plastic granules are pouring out on the beaches.
A criminal investigation was opened this Sunday, May 30.
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It was the Sri Lanka Marine Environment Protection Authority that lodged the complaint.
For several days, this public agency has denounced what could become the worst marine pollution in the history of the island.
The Sri Lankan authorities argued last week that the fire on the container ship from Gujarat, India, was caused by a nitric acid leak.
The ship was carrying 25 tons.
Debris collected
An anomaly which, again according to local authorities, would have been detected several days before the fire.
It is on this point in particular that the captain and the twenty-four crew members will be questioned on Monday.
Samples of polluted seawater and burnt debris from the boat were collected by Colombo police for analysis.
The ship continues to burn
Meanwhile, the
MV X-Press Pearl
container ship
continues to burn and spit out large quantities of plastic pellets on the shores of Sri Lanka.
The debris washed up in an area known for its beaches, but also as an important fishing area.
It is now prohibited off these coasts for 80km.
The 4,500 affected fishermen will be compensated, promises the Sri Lankan government.
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See also: Sri Lanka: tons of plastic from a burning ship wash up on the beaches
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Sri Lanka
Pollution
Environment
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