Disaster management teams successfully brought the fire, which reignited aboard MT New Diamond as a result of adverse weather, under control by morning hours of today (9), the Sri Lanka Navy said.

“There are no flames or smoke to be noticed as of now and the distressed ship is being towed further away towards safe waters by a tug,” it said.

Accordingly, the distressed oil tanker is now about 37 nautical miles off Sangamankanda Point and the disaster management operation is continuing at full steam in rough sea conditions and strong winds.