Disaster feared as fire-hit cargo ship sinks off Sri Lanka coast

A cargo ship carrying tonnes of toxic chemicals and plastic is sinking off Sri Lanka’s west coast, threatening to spill oil into the surrounding waters. Conservationists have described it as one of Sri Lanka's worst environmental disasters after plastic pellets from the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl washed up on shore. The ship had been on fire since May 20 before the blaze was extinguished. Rescue teams had been trying to tow the ship out to the deep sea when it began to sink off Sri Lanka's main port of Colombo. The disaster threatens the country’s fishing and tourism industry. Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis reports. - Subscribe to our channel: - Follow us on Twitter: - Find us on Facebook: - Check our website: #SriLanka #MVXPressPearl #PlasticPellets