Authorities on high alert after massive cargo ship carrying ‘hazardous cargo’ capsizes

The ship capsized off the coast of Kochi in India's Kerala state.

The ship capsized off the coast of Kochi in India's Kerala state in the early hours of Sunday.

The ship was carrying oil and hazardous cargo when it leaked and sank in the Arabian Sea.

Authorities fear that oil, fuel and other harmful substances have leaked from the ship and its cargo could endanger the health of residents and marine life.

The incident occurred on Sunday in a Liberian-flagged vessel near Kochi city.

There were 24 crew members on board, all of whom were rescued by Indian navy personnel after a number of hours of operation.

However, some of the 640 containers are reported to be drifting towards the shore, causing evacuations in surrounding areas.

A statement from the chief minister's office read: "As the oil slick can reach anywhere along the Kerala coast, an alert has been sounded across the coastal belt."

Residents have been urged not to touch anything that might wash up on the shore, while fisherman have been asked to steer clear of the sunken ship.

Officials revealed today, Monday, that they have increased pollution control measures in an attempt to control the spill.

Additionally, the Indian Coast Guard deployed a ship carrying pollution control equipment to the site.

They have also sent an oil spill detection aircraft to survey the area.

The Indian Coast Guard revealed that the ship was carrying 13 containers of hazardous cargo, as well as 12 with a chemical that reacts with seawater to release a flammable gas called calcium carbide.

"Additionally, [the] ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks," it added.

The coastal stretch is rich in biodiversity, as well as a landmark tourist destination.