Authorities in Sri Lanka were trying to head off a potential environmental disaster Thursday as a fire-damaged container ship that had been carrying chemicals was sinking off of the country’s main port. The Singapore-flagged MV X-Press Pearl started sinking Wednesday, a day after authorities extinguished the fire that raged on the vessel for 12 days. There are “no reports of oil pollution” at the site of the shipwreck as of 7 a.m. Sri Lankan time, according to the statement. Sri Lanka navy spokesman Indika de Silva said the navy and coast guard were preparing for an oil spill with assistance from neighboring India. A team of Sri Lanka Navy divers is currently deployed to inspect for any oil spills from the fire-ravaged ship.
