Kochi/Mumbai, May 26 -- A cargo vessel carrying 640 containers, including 13 with hazardous materials, sank off the Kerala coast on Sunday, triggering fears of environmental damage along the coastline that prompted the state government to issue an alert, officials said, adding that all 24 members of the ship's crew have been rescued.

The Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA 3 sank 14 nautical miles off the state's coast in the Arabian Sea around 7.50am on Sunday, almost a day after the ship developed a 26-degree starboard list -- marine term for tilt. The crew of the ship was rescued in a joint operation conducted by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Navy, the ministry of defence said in a statement.

The Elsa 3 is operated by MSC, one of the bi...