Fire on oil tanker controlled :Navy

The fire on the oil tanker off the South Eastern coast has been brought under control after 48 hours the fire broke out,  Navy spokesman Indika de Silva said Saturday. He said the fire has now reduced and it is no longer spreading.

The Indian Coast Guards also confirmed that the fire had been contained and said that the vessel has now towed back to prevent it drifting towards the coast.

 The oil tanker heading from Kuwait to India with 270,000 tons of crude oil experienced the fire on Thursday morning , 38 nautical miles off the south eastern coast of Sri Lanka, but by Friday it had drifted towards the coast reaching 22 nautical miles away from the coast.

However,  the Indian Coast Guards in a twitter message said the vessel MT New Diamond has been towed 35 nautical miles away from the Sri Lankan coast while fire fighting continues and the fire has now reduced. The Indian Coast Guards said no oil slick has been reported.

 One of the crew members of the 23 on board was confirmed to have been  killed in the fire  while the others have been rescued.