Blaze Breaks Out Again on Supertanker Off Sri Lanka, Cargo Area Intact

The New Diamond, a very large crude carrier, chartered by Indian Oil Corp, that was carrying the equivalent of about 2 million barrels of oil, is seen after a fire broke out off east coast of Sri Lanka, on Sept. 3, 2020. Courtesy Sri Lankan Airforce media/Handout via Reuters

COLOMBO/NEW DELHI—A new fire broke out on a supertanker carrying about 2 million barrels of oil in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Sri Lanka, spokesmen for the country’s navy said on Thursday, adding that one of its 23 crew was missing and another injured.

Navy spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said flames had spread to the bridge of the New Diamond, and that two Russian warships in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota harbor had left to assist in the firefighting. He had earlier said navy personnel at the scene had reported the fire was under control.