T’PURAM/KOLLAM : A total of 41 containers from MSC ELSA 3, which sank off the coast of Kochi, washed ashore at various points in Kollam so far. None of them contain hazardous materials. In Thiruvananthapuram, six washed ashore around Varkala on Tuesday.
Driven by winds and currents toward the southern shores, containers were spotted at Varkala, Manthara, Anchuthengu, and Ayyappanthottam. Three containers that washed ashore at Anchuthengu and Ayyappanthottam were later swept back into the sea.
Most containers appeared to be severely damaged, and battered by the sea. Container parts were also found at Vettakkada, Mampally, and Muthalapozhi, according to Chandradas, SHO of Coastal Police at Anchuthengu.
Meanwhile, the Kollam district administration started removing containers along the Kollam coastline. Two containers were shifted to Kollam Port.
Authorities are yet to confirm the presence of any oil spill from the sunken ship along the coast. Officials from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, and Customs have visited the affected areas.
KSPCB officials collected water samples to test for oil or other hazardous substances. Authorities have also cautioned the public to avoid touching any washed-up materials, as they may be hazardous. Coastal police have gathered bags containing polymer and cotton pellets that had washed ashore.
In Kollam, five families in Cheriyazheekal were relocated to a safer building provided by the district administration, as their homes were too close to where containers had been found and tidal waves had also led to seawater entering their houses.
The removal operation is being carried out by the District Disaster Management Authority, NDRF and Customs. The collector has directed that a detailed action plan be prepared to ensure that the containers are removed without endangering residents or the coastal environment. Additional workers may be deployed if required. Authorities have been instructed to share deployment details at each site and to assess the situation regularly.
“The containers will be quickly removed. Once the containers reach Kollam Port, they will be handed over to the shipping company. We are currently exploring two options for transferring the containers from the port - via sea or roadways,” the collector said. Since Monday morning, 32 containers from MSC Elsa 3 have washed ashore along various stretches of the Kollam coastline.
In response to the situation, the chief minister has directed the chief secretary to enlist the help of Civil Defence teams to remove plastic debris from beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, and Alappuzha. He assured that efforts are under way to clear the beaches of container debris as soon as possible.
Most containers severely damaged
Containers were spotted at Varkala, Manthara, Anchuthengu, and Ayyappanthottam. Container parts also found at Vettakkada, Mampally, and Muthalapozhi
Most containers appeared to be severely damaged, and battered by the sea
Authorities yet to confirm the presence of any oil spill from the sunken ship along the coast. KSPCB officials collected water samples to test for oil or other hazardous substances