Sinking Sri Lankan cargo ship raises fear of Oil spill in ocean waters
Image Credit: AFP
Officials say the Sri Lankan cargo ship, MV X-Press Pearl, began sinking off the coast of the island on Wednesday, raising worries of an oil and chemical leak exacerbating one of the country's greatest environmental disasters. In its tanks, the vessel carried nitric acid and 350 metric tonnes of oil. If the oil seeps into the ocean or surrounding lagoons, authorities anticipate a grave tragedy, endangering marine life and birds.