Explosion aboard MV X-PRESS PEARL; crew evacuated

COLOMBO (News 1st): An explosion was reported from inside the MV X-PRESS PEARL on Tuesday morning (May 25), Sri Lanka Navy said. All 25 crew members were evacuated safely out of the vessel, Captain Indika de Silva, the Navy Spokesperson told News 1st. The distressed container ship was manned by a crew of 25, who are Philippine, Chinese, Indian, and Russian nationals, Sri Lanka Navy said. The vessel which is registered under the flag of Singapore had carried 1486 containers with 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid, several other chemicals, and cosmetics; it had departed from the port of Hazira on India on 15th May 2021.