Oil spill from the burning ship would be "one of the world's biggest environmental disasters"
The chair of Sri Lanka's Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) warned Friday (4) that an oil spill from the burning ship would be "one of the biggest environmental disasters not only in the region but in the world".
The Panamanian-registered vessel, which began burning on Thursday morning, is carrying about 270,000 tonnes of crude oil.
Dharshani Lahandapura, said the MEPA would take legal action against the owners of the ship in the event of a spill.
"We have lodged a complaint with the area police and sought the attorney general's advice on the matter," she said.
The Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Indian Navy, and the Indian Coast Guard are currently working together to control the fire that erupted after an explosion of a boiler in the main engine room of MT New Diamond, an oil tanker sailing 38 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point east of Sri Lankan seas.
One Filipino crew member died in an engine room explosion and the remaining 22 crew, consisting of five Greeks and 17 Filipinos, were taken off the ship, Sri Lanka Navy said.