Porbandar, India – A Somali-bound cargo vessel carrying food supplies burst into flames late Sunday while anchored off the Gujarat coast near Porbandar, India, creating a fiery spectacle visible for miles.
The ship, en route to Bosaso in Somalia’s Puntland region, was owned by Jamnagar-based shipping company HRM & Sons. It was loaded with a large consignment of rice and sugar when the fire broke out. Witnesses along the coastline reported seeing towering flames and thick plumes of black smoke rising into the night sky, turning the sea into a scene of chaos and alarm.
Local authorities and coast guard units rushed to the site in an attempt to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading across the vessel. Initial reports indicate that all crew members managed to escape the blaze, though their exact number has not been disclosed. No casualties have so far been confirmed.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, maritime officials suspect it may have originated in the ship’s engine room before spreading rapidly to the cargo hold. The intensity of the blaze made firefighting operations at sea extremely challenging.
The cargo was reportedly intended for Somali markets facing recurrent food shortages due to regional instability and climate-related shocks. The loss could have ripple effects on local traders and consumers in Bosaso.
Indian maritime authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident, while Puntland officials are closely monitoring developments given the ship’s destination. The dramatic fire underscores the growing risks faced by commercial shipping along the busy Arabian Sea route linking India to the Horn of Africa.