Kochi, May 24 (UNI) A Liberia-flagged container vessel has capsized in the Arabian Sea, leading to apprehensions of a possible leakage of toxic substances in the sea off the Kochi coast.

Medical assistance is currently being provided to several crew members aboard a Coast Guard vessel undertaking rescue operation.

Nine of the 24 crew (Russian-one, Filipino-20, Ukraine-two, Georgia-one) onboard have abandoned the ship and are in life rafts, while rescue operations for the remaining15 are underway.

Indian Coast Guard aircrafts (Dornier) have dropped additional life rafts near the vessel to facilitate further evacuation.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority has issued a warning to the people about a possible leakage of dangerous marine gasoline and high-density diesel from the containers which fell into the sea.

The 184 m-long Liberia flagged container vessel, MSC ELSA 3, had departed Vizhinjam Port on May 23 with ETA at Kochi on May 24, a release said on Saturday.

At around 1325 hrs on May 24, the MSC Ship management intimated Indian authorities regarding development of 26 degree list onboard their vessel, approximately 38 Nm SW of Kochi, and sought urgent assistance.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is coordinating the conduct of rescue operations while maintaining ships in the area and aircraft overhead the distressed vessel.

One Indian Navy ship and two Coast guard ships are in the area.

DG Shipping, in coordination with Indian Coast Guard, has issued directives to the ship managers for providing urgent salvage services for the vessel.

The developing situation is being monitored closely by the Indian Coast Guard to prevent loss of life and damage to the environment.

UNI DS RN