Kozhikode, Kerala: A Singapore-flagged container vessel, named MV WAN HAI 503,caught fire nearly 40 nautical miles off the Beypore coast early on Monday. Both Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Navy have launched a coordinated rescue operation to save the lives of about 22 crew members from the container ship.

Among them, 18 jumped into the sea and are currently in rescue boats; four are reportedly missing. Five members have suffered injuries, and two have sustained severe burns, On Manorama reports.

Also Read | Criticism For The Centre, Silence For The State: Kerala Bill Sparks Outrage Over ‘Selective Free Speech’

“Vessel is presently on fire and adrift,” PRO Defence Kochi said.

As per reports, the 270-metre-long vessel carried 650 containers and it departed from Colombo on June 7 and was expected to reach Mumbai on June 10.