Hundreds of dead turtles wash ashore in Sri Lanka after cargo ship wreck

Hundredsofturtleshavewashedashoreafterashipcaught fire and sank off the west coast ofSriLankain June in the country's worst-ever marine disaster, a court in the capital Colombo heard this week.

A fire erupted on the Singapore-registered MV X-Press Pearl on May 20, carrying 1,486 containers, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid along with other chemicals and cosmetics. It sank on June 2 even as salvage crew tried to tow the vessel away from the coast.

Also Read |France launches probe into fashion groups over forced Uyghur labour

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The Russian captain of theshipappeared in court on Thursday but has yet to be charged in a case environmental experts say isSriLanka's worst man-made environmental disaster.

The toxins released from theshiphave killed 176turtles, 20 dolphins and four whales, Deputy Solicitor General, Madawa Tennakoon, said at an initial court hearing on Wednesday.

A video by a local television station seen by Reuters showed carcasses ofdeadseaturtlesand countless plastic pellets scattered over the shore with several volunteers working to clear them.

"There were more than 190 items ofcargo(on theship) and most of it was plastic-based," Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera told reporters.