Fears over a marine disaster grow after a fire-struck cargo ship carrying large quantities of chemicals has begun to sink.

Aerial footage from June 2 shows smoke rising from the partially submerged MV X-Press Pearl off the coast of Colombo.

The vessel caught fire on May 20 when it was waiting to enter the city's port.

Sri Lanka fears being hit by one of the worst-ever marine disasters as a cargo ship carrying large quantities of chemicals began sinking off the country's west coast.

Visuals shot on June 2 feature the cargo ship slowly sinking in the sea. Colossal clouds of white smoke continuously rise towards the sky from the ship's surface as it steadily submerges. Meanwhile, the aerial view displays an oil spill surrounding the sinking cargo ship.

A fire broke out in the ship when it was anchored off the country's west coast, waiting to enter the port, on May 20. The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl stocks 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, among other chemicals, loaded from India's Hazira on May 15.

The vessel began sinking a day after the fire officials extinguished the blaze, raging for 12 days. Moreover, the salvage experts are attempting to tow the fire-hit container ship as water started submerging it.

The authorities evacuated the 25-member crew of the ship after an explosion ensued on board last week. Moreover, the Navy narrowed down the cause of the blaze to the chemicals that the vessel was transporting.