Kochi: In the wake of a major fire aboard the container vessel MV Wan Hai 503, authorities have issued a high alert along parts of Kerala’s coastline as fallen cargo containers are expected to begin washing ashore between today and Wednesday. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has warned residents, especially in the southern coastal areas of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kollam districts, to stay vigilant.
People have been strictly advised to maintain a distance of at least 200 meters from any containers or unfamiliar objects that appear on the shore. The cautionary alert follows assessments by the Indian Coast Guard and the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF), which have identified potential impact zones along the coast.
Authorities emphasized that suspicious or unidentified objects should not be touched or moved, and any such sightings must be reported immediately to the emergency helpline 112.
The cargo ship, which caught fire on June 9 about 44 nautical miles off the coast of Azheekal in Kannur, is currently anchored 45 nautical miles offshore in a stable condition. However, four crew members remain unaccounted for, and search efforts are ongoing. After drifting toward the Kerala coast, the vessel was successfully towed back into deeper waters.
