Colombo, Sept. 4, (dpa/GNA) – Indian coast guards, backed by the Sri Lankan navy, began attempting to control a fire which broke out on an oil tanker off Sri Lankan waters, a navy spokesman said Friday.
“One of the 23 crew members on board is feared to have been killed in the fire, while the others have been rescued,” Sri Lankan navy spokesman Indika de Silva said.
He said the two forces had controlled the fire in one section of the Panama-registered tanker and are continuing operations.
The oil tanker was heading from Kuwait to India with 270,000 tons of crude oil when an explosion occurred and a fire broke out in the engine room Thursday morning, as the ship was 38 nautical miles off the south eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The Air Force said on Thursday that they had observed an oil leak from the ship.
However, de Silva said on Friday that the main fuel storage was safe and all attempts were being made to prevent the spread of the fire.
The Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) Friday said it has appealed for international assistance to prevent any damage from an oil spill in the area which is rich in marine life.
The Indian coast guards have sent in two ships while the Sri Lankan Navy has deployed three more ships to assist controlling the fire, and the Sri Lankan Air Force is also continuing its assistance operations.
GNA