It has readied containment booms to tackle a possible leakSri Lankan authorities on Thursday said they were bracing for a possible oil spill, as a fire-damaged cargo vessel was sinking off the island’s main port in capital Colombo. The country’s Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA), which termed the incident one of Sri Lanka’s worst ecological disasters in history, has readied oil spill containment booms, to tackle a possible leak from the vessel that officials said carried 350 tonnes of oil in its fuel tanks. “There is no oil leak from the ship yet, but arrangements are in place to deal with a possible spill. Meanwhile, several coastal villages reported dead fish and other marine organisms by the shore, images of which went viral on social media. Sri Lanka police are investigating the incident.

Source: The Hindu June 03, 2021 16:46 UTC