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MV X-Press Pearl was loaded with heavy chemicals and plastics when it started a fire. They couldn't contain the fire and now it starts to sink
The MV X-Press Pearl ship has been devastated by an explosion and a massive fire in recent weeks. He was approaching the Port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, when there was a Explosão and caused a massive fire. There was no way to contain the fire, causing the ship, which carries containers, to slowly sink. As it was laden with oil, plastic and other heavy chemicals, a shoreline spill is seen as highly likely.
This Thursday (03), a team of divers were unable to inspect the hull on the ship, due to unfavorable weather conditions. The country's biggest concern is a possible spill of oil and other heavy chemicals on the country's coast. Because of this great fear, Sri Lanka asked for international help to avoid this scenario terrible.
Watch the BBC News video report on the case
An official who is directly involved in the country's efforts to avert a disaster said the country had asked India for help to avert an even bigger problem. India had already been contacted by Sri Lankan authorities to help contain the fire.
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Indika de Silva, Spokesperson for the Sri Lankan Navy, said there has been no oil spill yet, but they are preparing to deal with the problem. As the possibility of an oil spill on the MV X-Press Pearl vessel is high, oil dispersing products and barriers are ready to be put to use at any evidence of a spill.
X-Press Feeders, the company that owns the ship, highlighted that the ship is sinking slowly amid attempts to tow it: “It is already confirmed that the rear of the vessel rests on the seabed at a depth of about 21 meters, and that the front is slowly sinking”, he highlighted.
"A part of the ship hit the bottom of the sea and this caused another plethora of headaches for all the authorities who cannot move it and know that it is sinking. So it's almost inevitable and all they can do is prepare”, highlighted Minelle Fernandez, from Al Jazeera.
Damage to the environment can be incalculable
The container ship is gigantic. It weighs 31.600 tons, is 186 meters long and 45 meters high. The ship contains about 350 tons of fuel. However, the oil spill is likely due to its large cargo of petroleum and other highly toxic lubricants that caused an environmental disaster.
