VIDEO | 24 rescued after containership sinks off India's southern coast

The ship had a cargo of 640 containers, of which 13 had hazardous cargo and 12 contained calcium carbide, a chemical compound with traces of phosphorous and arsenic. The onboard tanks meanwhile carried 84 tonnes of diesel fuel and over 360 tonnes of furnace oil.

The last three crewmembers were evacuated before the ship finally sank off Kochi on the morning (local time) of Sunday, May 25. All 24 survivors have been brought aboard the Indian Navy patrol vessel INS Sujata.

The coast guard has since begun implementing pollution control measures in anticipation of possible oil spills in the area.