BREAKING: A cargo ship full of electric vehicles is burning uncontrollably in the Pacific.
Experts say lithium batteries are likely to blame.
The cargo ship carrying 3,000 vehicles, including over 700 electric and hybrid cars, was abandoned in the Pacific Ocean this week after a fire broke out onboard.
The Morning Midas, en route from China to Mexico, began emitting smoke late Tuesday night. Lithium-ion batteries—known for their intense and difficult-to-extinguish fires—are suspected to have contributed to the blaze.
Despite attempts to control the fire, the 22 crew members had to evacuate in lifeboats and were later rescued by a nearby vessel. The ship remains adrift and burning, roughly 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska.
This marks yet another high-profile case of EV-related fires on cargo ships, raising alarms about the transport safety of lithium-powered vehicles.
While EVs are statistically less likely to catch fire, their battery fires can be hotter, harder to extinguish, and more likely to reignite due to thermal runaway. As global demand for electric vehicles surges, shipping incidents like this highlight the urgent need for improved fire mitigation and battery safety protocols at sea. A salvage team is expected to reach the Morning Midas by June 9 to assess the situation.
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