At about 12:30 p.m. local time on June 9, 2025, the Singapore-registered container ship Wan Hai 503, located southwest of Ajikal in Kerala, India, exploded and caught fire, causing 40 to 50 containers to fall into the sea. Several crew members jumped into the sea to escape the fire.

Among the 22 crew members, 18 have been resettled. Some of them are seriously injured and 4 crew members are unaccounted for.

After the rescue signal was issued, nearby vessels came to assist: The ONE Marvel container ship changed its course, and MSC Ambra also changed its course together.

Pictures and videos shared by the Indian Coast Guard on X show that thick black smoke was billowing from the ship and some containers were scattered and fallen where the smoke emerged.

It is claimed that this ship is transporting various dangerous goods, including flammable liquids and solids, self-igniting substances and toxic substances. In subsequent updates, the Indian Coast Guard stated that the situation remains severe and is making every effort to stabilize the vessel. They reported that as the fire seemed to have spread, thick smoke continued to rise from the ship, raising concerns of a secondary explosion.

The Wanhai 503 set off from Colombo on June 7th and was originally scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on June 10th. The ship was built in 2005, with a cargo capacity of 4,252 standard containers and a length of 882 feet (229 meters). The vessel underwent its last port state inspection in Mumbai in early June. Some minor issues were found with the loading and unloading equipment, and a workplace safety warning was issued, but it was not detained.