X-press Pearl ship caught fire
X-press Pearl is a Singaporean container ship which was built in 2021
2 May 2021: The ship departed the port of Hazira, India
The container vessel carried 1,486 containers carrying 25 tons of nitric acid, other poisonous chemicals and cosmetics X-press Feeders, the owners of the vessel, said the crew had discovered a container leaking nitric acid and had requested
Hamad Port in Qatar and Hazira to offload it May 19: The ship had reached Colombo on the night
20 May: It was reported that the ship caught fire 9.5 nautical miles (17.6 km; 10.9 mi) northwest of the Colombo Port
Rescue operations
21 May: SL Navy deployed two offshore patrol vessels, naval ships such as Sagara and Sindurala along with an aircraft in firefighting rescue operations which went in full swing despite inclement weather conditions surrounding the area
It was revealed that the fire has been brought under control on 21 May and the cooling efforts were continued to prevent the fire from flaring up 22 May: The SL Air Force deployed a Bell 212 helicopter in the rescue operations
25 May: a large explosion took place inside the vessel and all 25 crew members were evacuated safely
Environmental Damage
Sri Lanka's Marine Environmental Protection Authority said it was assessing the environmental damage and collecting evidence. Plastic granules from spilled cargo was washing up on Sri Lanka's beaches from May 27
Health experts and Environment Protection Authority also warned that there are possibilities for mild slight acid rains in Sri Lanka due to the emission of nitrogen dioxide
Sri Lanka authorities banned coastal fishing from Kalutara to Negombo, over contamination fears. About 5,600 one-day boats were unable to venture out and the government promised compensation