‘X-Press Pearl’ debris wash up on Sri Lanka shores…

Debris such as metal scraps, plastics and snacks from the fire-stricken MV ‘X-Press Pearl’ washed up on the shores of Negombo in Ja-Ela, Kepumgoda, Seththappaduwa and Dungalpitiya areas. The Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) said 08 cargo containers had fallen into the sea. The public was strictly warned against touching or opening toxic or poisonous material or packages from the burning and abandoned ship reaching the shores.

A massive fire erupted in the cargo vessel ‘X-Press Pearl’ carrying Nitric Acid and other chemicals on May 20. It was in anchorage about 9.5 nautical miles northwest of Colombo harbour at the time of the incident. The vessel had reached the location on May 19 before its entry into the harbour. The vessel, registered under the flag of Singapore, had departed with 1,486 containers with 25 tons of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India on May 15.