As toxic debris gets washed ashore CEA claims everything under control

BY Ifham Nizam

Many people collected hazardous debris washed ashore from a fire-stricken container vessel off the Western coast, despite warnings. Authorities have urged people living along the coastal belt between Wattala and Negombo area not to touch debris from the ill-fated ship X-Press Pearl, some of whose containers have fallen into the sea.

The crew abandoned the vessel on Tuesday morning (25) following explosions on board the vessel. Well informed sources said that firefighting efforts hadn’t been successful and the fire fuelled by chemicals seemed out of control.

Chairman of Central Environmental Authority (CEA) Siripala Amarasinghe yesterday (26) warned of the danger of collecting various items washed ashore as the vessel was carrying a range of chemicals and other toxic items.

CEA Chairman Amarasinghe said that they had taken steps to prevent environmental damage caused by the ship, but the Negombo beach was littered with debris from the stricken vessel.

Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday said that people had removed various items washed ashore. Action would be taken against them, he said. The President’s Office in a statement issued yesterday late afternoon stated that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has issued instructions to the relevant authorities to minimise environmental damage.

Amarasinghe maintained that the CEA had taken steps to manage the waste entering the country due to the accident. Officers were currently conducting inspections at the relevant locations, he said.

“Contaminants from the “X-Press Pearl” accident are considered “hazardous waste” and have not yet been clearly identified,” the CEA Chief said.

Urging the public not to handle debris, the CEA asked them to inform the Central Office of the Central Environmental Authority or the 1981 hotline as soon as possible if there was any environmental problem in any area due to the shipwreck.

MEPA, Chairperson Dharshani Lahandapura yesterday said there could be hazard materials in the freight containers.

“We received information yesterday that around 20 containers fell into the sea from the vessel. Some of the containers have washed ashore to the Negombo beach.”

She also said that “plastic pebble” like element had washed ashore along the coastline covering an area of around 1.5 km, adding that “a clean-up project will be conducted very soon to clear the beach of harmful components”.

Informed officials also said fire onboard the MV X-PRESS PEARL continued to burn rapidly across the vessel.

National Aquatic Resources Research Agency (NARA) Director-General, Dr. Palitha Kithsiri said a special team of experts had been assigned to survey the toxic effluents from the stricken vessel.

The vessel registered under the Singapore flag is carrying 1,486 containers including 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals, and cosmetics. It departed from the port of Hazira on India on May 15, 2021.

Sri Lanka Air Force had once again on Wednesday dropped 425 kilos dry chemical powder onto the MV X-Press Pearl in an attempt to contain the fire, said Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe – Spokesperson for the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Two Indian crew members of the distressed MV “X-PRESS PEARL” have been admitted to the National Hospital, Colombo.

The two Indian nationals who sustained injuries had been admitted on Tuesday, said Pushpa Ramyani De Zoysa, the Chief Nurse of the Colombo National Hospital. One of them has been tested Covid-19 positive.

An explosion was reported from inside the MV X-PRESS PEARL, on Tuesday morning ,and all 25 crew members were evacuated safely out of the vessel, Captain Indika de Silva, the Navy Spokesperson said.

The distressed container ship was manned by a crew of 25, who are Philippine, Chinese, Indian, and Russian nationals.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan authorities have finally decided to move the MV “X-PRESS PEARL” 50 nautical miles away from the Colombo Harbour into deep seas to prevent any further marine environment destruction around the country.