<p>Thiruvananthapuram: A fire that broke out during the removal of containers that fell in the sea from MSC ELSA-3 cargo vessel in the sea off the Kerala coast has triggered panic in Kollam.</p><p>A fire broke out from a container that was washed ashore at Sakthikulangara on the suburbs of Kollam on Thursday afternoon.</p><p>As per preliminary reports, the foam material in the container caught fire while it was being cut using electric cutters. Electric spark from the cutter was suspected to have caused the fire. Thick dark smoke that emanated triggered panic. Fire fighters stationed in the region immediately put out the fire.</p>.Kerala government declares Liberian ship capsize a disaster.<p>Meanwhile, the Kerala government has declared the wreckage of the ship in the Arabian sea as a state specific disaster. The move is aimed at intensifying the steps to address environmental impacts proposed by the wreckage. State disaster management funds could be used for the relief works.</p><p>According to a government order in this regard, the incident has raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for oil spill and drifting of debris, including cargo, along Kerala’s coastline.</p><p>While around 50 containers already washed ashore, the containers that were said to be containing hazardous cargo and calcium carbide were yet to be traced. Those are believed to be on the sea floor.</p><p>Director general of shipping Shyam Jagannathan said on Wednesday that the chances of the hazardous cargo getting mixed with sea water was minimal as those were well stored. Efforts are on to remove the entire containers and wreckage.</p><p>Volunteers were engaged to remove the plastic pellets that were washed ashore mostly in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram.</p><p>While a conclusive report on the reason for the accident was yet to come, preliminary assumption was that defects in the ballast system that maintains in the ship's balance led to the mishap. </p><p>The cargo vessel with 643 containers sank at 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast on May 25. As many as 13 containers were said to be containing hazardous and dangerous goods including Calcium Carbide, a chemical that reacts violently with water to release highly flammable acetylene gas. </p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan said that Kerala government will file compensation claims for the damages caused to the state by the ship mishap. </p><p>The losses are being estimated with the help of experts. The state government will also pay a relief of Rs. 1,000 and six kilogram rice each to fishermen whose livelihood were affected by the ship mishap.</p>
<p>Thiruvananthapuram: A fire that broke out during the removal of containers that fell in the sea from MSC ELSA-3 cargo vessel in the sea off the Kerala coast has triggered panic in Kollam.</p><p>A fire broke out from a container that was washed ashore at Sakthikulangara on the suburbs of Kollam on Thursday afternoon.</p><p>As per preliminary reports, the foam material in the container caught fire while it was being cut using electric cutters. Electric spark from the cutter was suspected to have caused the fire. Thick dark smoke that emanated triggered panic. Fire fighters stationed in the region immediately put out the fire.</p>.Kerala government declares Liberian ship capsize a disaster.<p>Meanwhile, the Kerala government has declared the wreckage of the ship in the Arabian sea as a state specific disaster. The move is aimed at intensifying the steps to address environmental impacts proposed by the wreckage. State disaster management funds could be used for the relief works.</p><p>According to a government order in this regard, the incident has raised serious environmental concerns, including the potential for oil spill and drifting of debris, including cargo, along Kerala’s coastline.</p><p>While around 50 containers already washed ashore, the containers that were said to be containing hazardous cargo and calcium carbide were yet to be traced. Those are believed to be on the sea floor.</p><p>Director general of shipping Shyam Jagannathan said on Wednesday that the chances of the hazardous cargo getting mixed with sea water was minimal as those were well stored. Efforts are on to remove the entire containers and wreckage.</p><p>Volunteers were engaged to remove the plastic pellets that were washed ashore mostly in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram.</p><p>While a conclusive report on the reason for the accident was yet to come, preliminary assumption was that defects in the ballast system that maintains in the ship's balance led to the mishap. </p><p>The cargo vessel with 643 containers sank at 14.6 nautical miles off the Kerala coast on May 25. As many as 13 containers were said to be containing hazardous and dangerous goods including Calcium Carbide, a chemical that reacts violently with water to release highly flammable acetylene gas. </p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi VIjayan said that Kerala government will file compensation claims for the damages caused to the state by the ship mishap. </p><p>The losses are being estimated with the help of experts. The state government will also pay a relief of Rs. 1,000 and six kilogram rice each to fishermen whose livelihood were affected by the ship mishap.</p>