The Indian Navy and Coast Guard rescued 24 crew members from a cargo ship that sank off the coast of Kerala.

Authorities sent rescue teams to respond to a distress call from the MSC Elsa 3 that began listing dangerously on May 24.

Footage shows the Liberian-flagged container vessel tilting at sea. Twenty-one sailors were rescued on Saturday, and the remaining three were evacuated on Sunday as the ship sank amid worsening weather conditions.

In a May 25 statement, the Indian Coast Guard said: 'All 24 crew members of Liberian-flagged container Vessel MSC ELSA 3 were rescued safely, 21 by Indian Coast Guard & 3 by Indian Navy Ship Sujata after the vessel sank off Kochi this morning.'

Captain Alexander Ivanov, the MSC ship's master, added: 'The weather was rough, and there must have been some internal issues within the vessel. We are grateful to the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for their efforts and flawless communication.'

Indian authorities said they were bracing for a possible environmental emergency after dozens of containers with hazardous chemicals and fuels plunged into the Arabian Sea.

No major oil slicks have been reported as the coast guard deployed two vessels and an aircraft to monitor the situation.

The MSC Elsa 3 was built in Germany in 1997. Previously called the Jan Richter, it has undergone several name changes and has been retrofitted to be used as a feeder ship.