Disaster management teams have successfully brought the fire reignited aboard MT New Diamond oil tanker by the adverse weather, under control by this morning, and there are no flames or smoke to be noticed now, the Sri Lanka Navy said in its latest update.

Having controlled the fire, the tanker, which caught fire first on 3rd September, is now being towed further away towards safe waters by a tug and is now about 37 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point in Eastern Seas of Sri Lanka, the Navy said.

Disaster management operation is however still continuing at full steam in rough sea conditions and strong winds.

A narrow diesel oil patch extending to one kilometer away from the ship has been observed last evening and a Dornier aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard has air dropped diesel dispersant to minimize the potential impact on the marine environment.

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