Archive · 31 May 2025
Shipwreck Debris Affects Kanniyakumari Coastal Villages
A cargo ship called MSC ELSA-3 sank, and now trash from it is showing up on beaches.
This trash includes plastic pieces, wood, and even some containers.
It is affecting 22 villages in a district called Kanniyakumari.
The ship had many containers, some with dangerous stuff like chemicals.
People are working to clean up the mess and have set up a phone line to report where more trash is found.
Debris from the sunken MSC Elsa-3 has affected 22 coastal villages in Kanniyakumari district.
The ship carried 640 containers, including hazardous cargo and calcium carbide.
Plastic pellets, wooden logs, and cashew nuts have washed ashore in Kanniyakumari villages.
A three-member expert team and coastal police are assisting with salvage operations.
A 24x7 control room has been established to report debris.
- Who
- MSC ELSA-3
- What
- Debris, including plastic pellets, wooden logs, and a container, washing ashore from the sunken vessel
- When
- May 24, 2025 (sinking); debris washing ashore in the past three days
- Where
- Kanniyakumari district, Kerala coast
- Why
- Due to the sinking of the MSC ELSA-3 cargo vessel.
- Ship Name
- MSC ELSA-3
- Ship Flag
- Liberia
- Containers on board
- 640
- Hazardous cargo on board
- 13 containers
- Calcium Carbide on board
- 12 containers
- Diesel on board
- 84.44 metric tonnes
- Furnace oil on board
- 367.1 metric tonnes
- Affected Villages
- 22
Sources
Kochi shipwreck: CM Stalin holds review meeting on environmental impact along T.N. coast
Kerala govt. forms multiple committees to handle shipwreck related issues
Govt sets up panels to oversee wreckage effect
Debris from the sunken cargo vessel affects the coast along 22 villages in Kanniyakumari district
Plastic nurdle spill threatens Gulf of Mannar