A Singapore-registered cargo ship caught fire on May 20, 2021 while passing through Sri Lankan waters and is currently anchored near Colombo port in Sri Lanka. 

On May 25 of Sri Lankan local time, the cargo ship experienced an explosion and another fire, which have now been largely brought under control. All 25 crew members on board have been safely evacuated, with two individuals being sent to the hospital. 

The cargo ship was carrying multiple containers containing cosmetics and chemicals, and the extent of maritime pollution is yet to be assessed.

The China-Sri Lanka Joint Center for Education & Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences promptly contacted relevant experts for consultation and provided the Sri Lankan side with relevant forecast results. 

The marine environmental forecasting system developed by the joint center played a critical role in assessing the potential dispersion of pollutants such as plastics, debris, and chemicals. 

Additionally, the collaborative real-time monitoring using the jointly established marine environmental observation stations between China and Sri Lanka provided crucial observational data for the marine environmental model forecasts in this incident. 

Currently, experts from both China and Sri Lanka are continuing their close communication and cooperation.