Indian Coast Guard officials have confirmed that one person was killed after a fire ignited in the engine room of a containership while underway in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka on Friday, June 25.
The incident on the Liberian-flagged MSC Messina occurred two days after it departed Colombo and while it was en route to Singapore without any onboard cargo.
The blaze has since been extinguished. However, it left the 300-metre ship disabled, compelling its owners to have it taken under tow for the rest of its voyage to Singapore.
One crewmember was initially reported missing but has now been confirmed to have perished as a result of the fire.
No serious injuries have been reported among the 27 surviving crewmembers.