• The MV Wan Hai 503 has been ablaze since June 9, with ongoing firefighting efforts.
• 18 out of 22 crew members have been rescued; four remain missing.
• The ship carries hazardous cargo, raising environmental concerns as efforts continue to tow it away from the coast.

The **MV Wan Hai 503**, a Singapore-flagged container ship, has been engulfed in flames approximately 78 nautical miles off India's Beypore port since June 9, following an internal explosion. Fire and rescue teams from the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been battling the blaze, which authorities warn could lead to a "potential ecological disaster" due to the vessel's hazardous cargo, including 2,128 metric tons of fuel. As of now, 18 of the ship's 22 crew members have been rescued, while four remain unaccounted for, with ongoing search efforts for them, according to channelnewsasia and BBC.

Since the fire broke out, Indian authorities have made extensive efforts to extinguish it, deploying five Coast Guard ships, two aircraft, and a helicopter. Despite these efforts, officials noted that flames were still active in the inner decks near the fuel tanks, complicating the firefighting operations. The situation remains critical, and teams are working to establish a towline to remove the vessel from its precarious position off the Kerala coast, as confirmed by the Indian Ministry of Defense and reported by channelnewsasia and AA.

Photographs released by the Coast Guard illustrate the severity of the situation, showing cargo containers scattered across the deck, inflicted by a powerful explosion. The Indian Coast Guard has confirmed that they are focused on preventing a marine disaster, emphasizing the critical nature of their operations. Rescue efforts include winching salvage specialists onto the vessel, although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to reports from BBC and AA.