Car carrier ship sinks in North Pacific after weeks of fiery electric vehicle blaze

A cargo ship, the Morning Midas, sank in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, three weeks after a fire broke out onboard. It carried 3,000 vehicles, including 70 electric vehicles, 681 hybrids, and over 2,000 conventional cars, as stated by the US Coast Guard. The ship went down about 360 nautical miles from the Alaskan coast due to significant fire damage and severe weather, according to The New York Times.

All 22 crew members evacuated safely after the fire began on Tuesday, June 3, originating from a deck loaded with electric vehicles, says Zodiac Maritime, the ship's management company, reported. Crew members took to a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby commercial vessel. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, with Liberia, the ship's flag state, conducting a probe alongside Zodiac Maritime.

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The sinking of the 600-foot ship raised concerns about environmental impacts due to it carrying over 1,800 metric tons of fuel. Petty Officer Cameron Snell of the US Coast Guard stated, "There is no visible pollution" as of Tuesday. Two salvage tugboats are monitoring the site for pollution or debris, with additional vessels dispatched as a precaution, reported CBS News. Efforts are in place to ensure environmental protection.

The Morning Midas, built in 2006, had been en route from China to Mexico when it caught fire. London's Zodiac Maritime mentioned that heavy weather conditions exacerbated the fire damage, leading to the sinking in waters about 16,400 feet deep, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.