A massive fire broke out on a container cargo ship approximately 102 nautical miles southwest of Goa on Friday, while the vessel was en route from Gujarat’s Mundra to Colombo, Sri Lanka, according to a statement from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).

Upon receiving the distress signal, the Indian Coast Guard quickly redirected a ship to the location and dispatched a Dornier aircraft for aerial assessment.

The ICG reported that the ship is carrying Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) cargo, with explosions occurring in the front part of the vessel. Despite rough seas and challenging weather conditions, the Coast Guard ship has arrived at the scene and is actively engaged in firefighting operations.

The crew, initially panic-stricken, has been reassured of their safety by the Coast Guard personnel. Additionally, two ICG ships were dispatched from Goa to support the firefighting efforts.