The crew of the X-Press Pearl first spotted smoke rising from the cargo hold on May 20 while anchored not far from the port of Colombo, according to X-Press Feeders, the company that operates the Singapore-flagged ship. They tried to extinguish the fire by releasing carbon dioxide in the hold, but the fire grew and an explosion rocked the recently built ship on May 22, the company said.

Source: Washington Post June 01, 2021 08:48 UTC