UN: Fire in Sri Lankan ships has caused ‘significant damage to the planet’ Sri Lanka News

A UN representative in Sri Lanka said the sunken ship had caused “significant damage” by releasing hazardous substances into the ecosystem.

A UN spokesman in Sri Lanka said the sinking of a container ship that caught fire while transporting chemicals from the capital’s coast has caused “significant damage to the planet” by releasing hazardous substances into the ecosystem.

The Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl was killed by a Colombian on Thursday after catching fire, raising concerns about a possible environmental catastrophe.

The UN has said it is coordinating international efforts and assisting Sri Lanka in assessing the damage, making recovery efforts and preventing such disasters in the future.

“This type of environmental emergency is causing significant damage to the planet by the release of hazardous substances into the ecosystem,” UN Resident Coordinator Hanaa Singer-Hamdy of Sri Lanka said in a statement on Saturday. “This threatens the livelihoods and livelihoods of the population in coastal areas.”

A UN team of oil spills and chemical experts – provided by the European Union – has been sent to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has already filed a $ 40 million interim claim with X-Press Feeders (the ship’s operating company) to cover part of the cost of fighting the fire. was turned on on May 20, when the ship was anchored about 9.5 nautical miles (18 kilometers) from Colombo and waiting to enter port.

Environmentalists are suing the government and X-Press Feeders for allegedly failing to prevent a serious catastrophe in Sri Lanka’s marine environment, and Sri Lankan police have launched a criminal investigation into the incident.

Last week, experts recover fire vessel data recorder.

The Sri Lankan navy believes the fire was caused by chemical charges, which added more than 22 tonnes of nitric acid and other chemicals, most of which were destroyed in the fire. The waste associated with burnt fiberglass and tons of plastic pellets has already polluted the surrounding beaches.

Tons of microplastic granules have sunk the famous beaches of the South Asian country of Negombo, a popular tourist destination, forcing a ban on fishing and creating fears of ecological damage.

Local media have reported that more than 50 turtles and eight dolphins have been found dead on the island since the boat caught fire on May 20, with Anil Jasinghe, the country’s chief environmental officer, linked the deaths to X-Press Pearl on Thursday, but said he was still awaiting final autopsy reports. .

According to a vessel observed by The Associated Press, the vessel was carrying a meager 1,500 containers, 81 of which were described as “dangerous” goods.

The main concern has been about 300 bunker oils used as fuel for the ship. But officials said it could have been burned in the fire.

Sri Lankan authorities and the ship’s operator have said there is no trace of the oil spill so far.