"A cargo ship carrying tonnes of chemicals is sinking off Sri Lanka's west coast, the country's government and navy said on Wednesday, in one of Sri Lanka's worst-ever marine disasters.

The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl, carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, along with other chemicals and cosmetics, was anchored off the island's west coast when a fire erupted on May 20.

Authorities have been battling the blaze since then, as flaming containers laden with chemicals have fallen from the ship's deck, the navy said last month."

Alasdair Pal reports for Reuters June 2, 2021. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Fears Of Oil Spill Emergency As Cargo Ship That Burnt For 13 Days Off Coast Of Sri Lanka Is Now Sinking" (CNN) [3]

"Sri Lanka's Burning Cargo Ship On Track To Become Its 'Worst Environmental Disaster'" (CNN) [4]