Dolphins, Turtles Killed By Fire-ravaged Ship: Sri Lanka
Umer Jamshaid Published June 17, 2021 | 06:40 PM
Colombo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jun, 2021 ) :Dozens of turtles and dolphins were killed by intense heat and chemical poisoning from a container ship that burned for almost two weeks off Sri Lanka, authorities said Thursday.
The Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl has been partially submerged off the island nation's coast since early June after an onboard blaze released tonnes of plastic raw materials that swamped local beaches.
Wildlife officials said 48 dead turtles and eight dolphins, as well as many small fish, had washed up on the country's western and southern beaches in recent weeks.
"To see these images of dead turtles and dolphins is very distressing for our people," Environment Ministry Secretary Anil Jasinghe told reporters in Colombo.
"The carcasses that washed up soon after the fire had clear signs of burns from the intense heat of the ship." Jasinghe said preliminary reports also suggested that chemical poisoning was behind more recent discoveries of dead turtles.
Autopsies were being conducted to finalise the causes of death, he added.
Authorities were also probing the death of a 30-foot (nine-metre) blue whale off the Jaffna peninsula about 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Colombo.
The whale washed up on the islet of Kayts on Tuesday, officials said.
The burnt out ship was known to be carrying 81 containers of hazardous chemicals, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, when it caught fire.
Officials have said about 1,200 tonnes of plastic pellets and other debris scooped from beaches are being stored in 45 shipping containers.
They have also warned of the impact of microplastic pollution from the country's "worst marine disaster".
Sri Lanka is seeking $40 million in damages from the ship's operators X-Press Feeders.
Environmentalists are suing the government and X-Press Feeders for allegedly failing to prevent the disaster.
Sri Lankan police have launched a criminal probe against the ship's captain, chief engineer and chief officer.
aj/grk/axn
Recent Stories
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
Yuvraj Singh named ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 Ambassador
Greece hands Olympic flame to 2024 Paris Games hosts
Two Kyiv hospitals evacuating over feared Russian strikes
World must act on neurotech revolution, say experts
Charles & Catherine's cancer diagnoses
Champions Alcaraz and Sabalenka through in Madrid Open
King Charles to resume some public duties during cancer treatment: palace
US defense chief announces $6 bn in security aid for Ukraine
Heavy rains cause damage to Spezand-Taftan railway track
Woman stabbed in Israel, attacker killed: police
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
21 hours ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
21 hours ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
3 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
5 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
5 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
6 days ago
-
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
6 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
6 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
8 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
12 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
13 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
13 days ago