Video: Hundreds of dead turtles wash ashore in Sri Lanka
Wreck of the X-Press Pearl responsible for island’s worst-ever environmental disaster.
Hundreds of sea turtles have washed ashore in Sri Lanka after the X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank off the island nation’s west coast in June.
The partially sunk vessel has released tonnes of plastic and chemical pollutants into surrounding waters, killing 176 turtles, 20 dolphins and four whales.
“There were more than 190 items of cargo (on the ship) and most of it was plastic-based,” environment minister Mahinda Amaraweera told reporters.
“During the south-western monsoon season, sea creatures never die in this way. Most of these carcasses are found on the west coast directly affected by the shipwreck.”
The Russian captain of the vessel, Tyutkalo Vitaly, appeared in court in Colombo last Thursday and 14 other people are co-accused of causing the disaster.
