A UN representative in Sri Lanka says the sinking ship ‘wreaked havoc’ by releasing hazardous substances into the environment.
A United Nations envoy to Sri Lanka has stated that the sinking of a burning tanker while transporting drugs off the coast of the capital has caused “significant damage to the earth” by releasing hazardous substances into the environment.
The famous Singaporean MV X-Press Pearl sank in Colombo on Thursday holding fire.
The UN says it is coordinating international efforts and helping Sri Lanka assess the damage, resume and prevent future disasters.
“This type of natural disaster is devastating to the world by releasing hazardous substances into the natural world,” UN Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer-Hamdy said in a statement on Saturday. “This also threatens the lives of coastal residents.”
A UN oil company and energy experts – provided by the European Union – have been deployed to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has already provided $ 40 million to X-Press Feeders – the company operating the ship – for some of the firefighting experience, which it started on May 20 when the boat was anchored 9.5 nautical miles (18 km) northwest of Colombo waiting to enter the harbor.
Environmentalists are suing the government and X-Press feeders for allegedly failing to curb Sri Lanka’s marine natural disasters, while Sri Lankan police have launched a series of criminal cases.
Last week, experts he recovered a data recorder from a ship that was set on fire.
Sri Lankan naval officers believe the fire was caused by their medicinal properties, which contained more than 22 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals, many of which were destroyed in the fire. But debris, including hot fiberglass and tons of plastic sheeting, has already devastated nearby beaches.
Tons of microplastic have surpassed South Africa’s famous beaches in Negombo, a popular tourist destination, forcing fish bans and threatening environmental degradation.
More than 50 local dolphins and eight dolphins have been found dead on the island since the ship caught fire on May 20. Anil Jasinghe, the country’s top naturalist, on Thursday linked the dead to X-Press Pearl, but said he was still awaiting final reports on the investigation. .
The ship, described by The Associated Press, said the ship could carry only 1,500 containers, of which 81 were known to be “dangerous.”
The biggest worry has been about 300 tons of fuel used as fuel for the ship. But officials have said it could be set on fire.
Sri Lankan officials and sailors say there is currently no sign of oil spill.
