Sri Lanka: The X-Press Pearl disaster
In 2021 a huge cargo ship, the X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka, triggering an environmental crisis. The country is still counting the cost.
In 2021, a huge container ship, the X-Press Pearl caught fire and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka, releasing hazardous materials, toxic chemicals and more than 1000 tonnes of microplastic pellets into the sea. The UN called it an environmental catastrophe. Today, Sri Lanka is still counting the cost. Leana Hosea visits Sri Lanka to investigate the legacy of the disaster, and find out why, four years on, there鈥檚 still a battle for compensation.
Producer: Alex Last
Local producer: Saroj Pathirana (Fellow, Pulitzer Center's Ocean Reporting Network)
Sound mix: Neil Churchill
Assignment series editor: Penny Murphy
(Image: Container ship X-Press Pearl on fire. Credit: Sri Lanka Ports Authority)
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Broadcasts
Last Tuesday 01:32GMTLive News- Last Tuesday 01:32GMT成人快手 World Service
- Last Tuesday 08:32GMT成人快手 World Service
- Last Tuesday 19:06GMT成人快手 World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Yesterday 11:32GMT成人快手 World Service except East Asia & South Asia
- Yesterday 15:06GMT成人快手 World Service News Internet & Online only
Download this programme
Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes