Burning Sri Lanka, loaded by chemicals, sank and provoked an ecological catastrophe in the Indian Ocean, reports BBC News.
Ship X-Press Pearl, registered in Singapore, burned almost two weeks before the fire was extinguished. Hundreds of tons of oil from fuel tanks leaked into the sea, harming the sea flora and fauna. The Ministry of Fisheries stated that emergency measures were taken to protect the lagoon of Negombo and surrounding areas. Fisheries from Panadour to Negombo is suspended.
In the last days, the naval forces of Sri Lanka and India worked together, trying to put out the fire and do not give the ship to fall apart and sink, but the strong wind interferes with the operation near the port of Colombo.
Sri Lanka’s authorities believe that the fire was caused by the leakage of nitric acid, which the crew knew from May 11. The ship transported 25 tons of severe corrosionic acid, which can be used in the production of fertilizers and explosives.
Environmental Protector Dr. Ajant Province stated BBC News that flooding is a “worst ecological script.”