Cargo ship carrying 3,000 vehicles sinks in Pacific Ocean after fire

A Liberian-flagged cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 vehicles sank in the North Pacific Ocean after burning for nearly two weeks, according to media reports.

All 22 crew members aboard the vessel were safely rescued, authorities confirmed.

The vessel, Morning Midas, had departed from Yantai, China, en route to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when it caught fire on June 3, approximately 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska.

The fire, believed to have started near the ship's stern—where electric and hybrid vehicles were stored—intensified and eventually led to the crew abandoning the ship. They were rescued by a passing merchant vessel.

Despite efforts by salvage teams and the US Coast Guard, the fire could not be contained. The ship sank on June 24 in international waters, around 415 miles from land, to a depth of roughly 5,000 meters.

Early reports suggest no visible pollution has been detected, though environmental monitoring is ongoing.

The vessel was carrying approximately 3,000 vehicles, including at least 70 electric and several hundred hybrid cars. Industry experts have raised concerns about the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries, especially following similar incidents in recent years.

Authorities have not confirmed the exact cause of the fire. The incident is expected to intensify discussions on maritime safety standards for transporting electric vehicles.