41 containers land in Kollam, six in Thiruvananthapuram; tackle debris, says CM Vijayan
T'PURAM/KOLLAM : A total of 41 containers from MSC ELSA 3, which sank off the coast of Kochi, washed ashore at various points in Kollam so far. None of them contain hazardous materials. In Thiruvananthapuram, six washed ashore around Varkala on Tuesday.
Driven by winds and currents toward the southern shores, containers were spotted at Varkala, Manthara, Anchuthengu, and Ayyappanthottam. Three containers that washed ashore at Anchuthengu and Ayyappanthottam were later swept back into the sea.
Most containers appeared to be severely damaged, and battered by the sea. Container parts were also found at Vettakkada, Mampally, and Muthalapozhi, according to Chandradas, SHO of Coastal Police at Anchuthengu.
Meanwhile, the Kollam district administration started removing containers along the Kollam coastline. Two containers were shifted to Kollam Port.
Authorities are yet to confirm the presence of any oil spill from the sunken ship along the coast. Officials from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, and Customs have visited the affected areas.
KSPCB officials collected water samples to test for oil or other hazardous substances. Authorities have also cautioned the public to avoid touching any washed-up materials, as they may be hazardous. Coastal police have gathered bags containing polymer and cotton pellets that had washed ashore.
In Kollam, five families in Cheriyazheekal were relocated to a safer building provided by the district administration, as their homes were too close to where containers had been found and tidal waves had also led to seawater entering their houses.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
No toxic materials in sea, clean-up underway: Kanyakumari collector
Kanyakumari: Experts have confirmed that no toxic substances were detected in the sea along the Midalam and Kodimunai coasts after debris from the sunken cargo vessel MSC Elsa 3 washed ashore, Kanyakumari district collector R Alagu Meena, said in a statement on Tuesday. The statement followed a site inspection and expert assessment initiated under the directive of chief minister M K Stalin. The cargo vessel, which sank off the Kochi coast on May 25 due to an engine failure, had several containers that drifted with the current and eventually reached the Kanyakumari shoreline. Items found along the coast included plastic pellets, wooden boxes, and cashew nut sacks. The collector stated that teams of experts found no contamination in seawater, ruling out the presence of any toxic materials. The retrieved items are currently secured under the jurisdiction of respective panchayats, municipalities, and town panchayats. One entire container was handed over to the Tuticorin customs department for further investigation. In the meantime, clean-up operations are being carried out in full swing by the disaster management department's Aapda Mitra volunteers, local officials, civic bodies, and elected representatives. The administration is also conducting public awareness campaigns in coastal fishing villages to ensure residents remain informed and calm. Authorities assured the public that the situation is under control and that necessary measures are being taken to restore normalcy along the affected coastal stretches.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- The Hindu
Shipwreck: State announces ₹1,000, 6 kg of rice to fishermen families
The State government will give ₹1,000 and 6 kg of rice to as many as 78,498 fishermen families and 27,020 families employed in the allied sectors in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam districts as an interim measure. The solatium has been announced against the backdrop of the capsize of MSC Elsa 3 off the coast of Kerala, posing a significant threat to the marine ecosystem and environment, affecting the livelihood means of fishermen families and families in the allied sectors. Several containers and cargo parcels from the capsized Liberian-flagged cargo vessel washed ashore at these districts early. The Kerala government then declared the wreckage of the ship, which sank 14.6 nautical miles off the coast of Kerala on May 24, a State-specific disaster. The State has sanctioned ₹10.55 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to meet the expense.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck: Nurdles spotted in 36 of 42 coastal villages in Kanniyakumari, says collector
KANNIYAKUMARI: Collector R Alagumeena on Monday said that nurdles have been spotted in 36 of the total 42 coastal villages across the district. The nurdles have reached up to Manakudi coastal village (located on the outskirts of Kanniyakumari town) and the process of removing them has been going on. The entire exercise is being recorded by drones, she said. While all the 16 coastal villages in Killiyoor taluk in the district have been affected, 10 of 13 villages in Kalkulam taluk, and 10 of 13 hamlets in Agastheeswaram taluk have been hit, sources said. After a Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC Elsa 3 sank off Kochi on May 24, a container washed ashore along the Vaniyakudi coast near Colachel last Thursday. An expert team retrieved the container and handed it over to the customs office in Thoothukudi. A total of 858 bags of nurdles, each weighing approximately 25kg, have been collected so far. On Monday, 248 bags were collected, the collector said. Speaking to reporters at the district collectorate in Nagercoil on Monday, Alagumeena said the collected nurdles would be shifted to various fishing harbours in the district.
