About 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa - July 19, 2024

A major fire has broken out on a merchant vessel reportedly carrying hazardous cargo in western India's Goa.

Visuals showed the burning ship and black smoke engulfing the air in the middle of the water body. ICG officials and rescuers trying their best to get the fire under control amidst the challenging situation.

Speaking to Newslions Media, Indian Coast Guard mentioned an ICG ship is currently engaged in firefighting operations while battling inclement weather and rough seas. Two additional ICG ships are en route to assist, according to an official release.

The merchant vessel, traveling from Mundra to Colombo, was reportedly carrying "International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) cargo," and explosions have been occurring on its front part, the Coast Guard said.

In response to the fire, an ICG Dornier aircraft was launched for aerial assessment. The crew, initially in panic, was reassured of their safety by the ICG ship, which has already arrived on the scene and is conducting firefighting operations despite challenging conditions. Two more ICG ships have been dispatched from Goa to support the efforts.

The Indian Coast Guard continues to monitor the situation closely and provide assistance to ensure the safety of the crew and mitigate the dangers posed by the hazardous cargo.

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