WAN HAI announced on the 9th that the WAN HAI 503 container ship caught fire while navigating off the west coast of India due to smoke. The Indian authorities dispatched coast guard aircraft and a naval vessel to respond.

According to WAN HAI, there were 22 crew members on board, of which four are currently missing. The remaining 18 crew members have successfully evacuated and will receive necessary medical assistance with the help of relevant agencies.

Reports indicate that of the four missing crew members, two are Taiwanese, with the others being one Indonesian and one Myanmar national. Among the five injured crew members, two have serious injuries. Most of the crew members are Taiwanese, and they abandoned the ship using lifeboats and rafts, and were later rescued by the merchant vessel MV ONE MARVEL that came to assist.

According to AFP, photos taken by Indian coast guard aircraft show thick black smoke coming from the ship, and cargo containers appear to have been thrown out due to strong explosion forces. Reuters reported that the incident took place off the coast of Kollam, Kerala, resulting in 40 cargo containers falling into the Arabian Sea.

Officials stated that the freighter has not sunk, but did not disclose the nature of the cargo or the cause of the explosion. The Indian Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that the WAN HAI 503, flying the Singapore flag, caught fire approximately 78 nautical miles from Beypore Port, measuring 268 meters in length.