UN: ship fire in Sri Lanka has damaged the planet

The representative of the United Nations in Sri Lanka said the sinking of a container ship that caught fire while transporting chemicals off the coast of the capital Colombo had caused “significant damage to the planet” by using hazardous substances in the ecosystem were released.

It is noteworthy that the ship, die X-Press Pearl, which flies the Singapore flag, sank Thursday, a month after a fire broke out, raising fears of a possible environmental disaster.

The United Nations said they would die coordinate international efforts and Sri Lanka in damage assessment and recovery of the ship and prevention of such disasters in support the future, so die Associated Press.

Threatening the lives of the population

How die Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Sri Lanka Hana Sangar Hamdi last night, Saturday, in a statement said: “An environmental emergency of this type will cause significant damage to the planet by releasing hazardous substances in releases the ecosystem. This in turn threatens people’s lives and livelihoods in Coastal areas. “

In addition, a UN team of oil and chemical accident experts – provided by the European Union – was sent to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka already has a preliminary claim from the X-Press Feders Group in $ 40 million submitted to cover part of the cost die Combat the fire that broke out on May 20 as the ship docked 9.5 nautical miles (18 km) northwest of Colombo and waited to enter port.

Sri Lankan Navy personnel loads bags of wreckage, die came ashore from the X-Press Pearl (Reuters archive)

Sri Lankan Navy personnel loads bags of wreckage, die came ashore from the X-Press Pearl (Reuters archive)

25 tons

The Sri Lankan Navy also believe the fire will go through die Chemical delivery on board was caused, die Contained 25 tons of nitric acid and other chemicals of which die most of them were destroyed in the fire. But debris, including burnt fiberglass and tons of plastic pellets, already has die nearby beaches polluted.

According to a statement about the ship’s contents seen by The Associated Press, the ship is carrying fewer than 1,500 containers, 81 of which are classified as “dangerous” goods.

A member of the Sri Lankan Navy removes wreckage from the X-Press Pearl (Reuters Archives)

A member of the Sri Lankan Navy removes wreckage from the X-Press Pearl (Reuters Archives)

The main concern was about 300 tons of heating oil, which was used as fuel for the ship. But officials say it could have been burned in the fire.

In addition, meadows die Sri Lankan authorities and die Shipping company X-Press Feders pointed out that there were still no signs of an oil leak.

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