The Canadian Coast Guard said more than 100 shipping containers fell off the MV Zim Kingston.
It was originally reported that 40 containers fell overboard after the cargo ship hit rough waters off B.C.’s coast. After crews accessed container bays on the ship, the coast guard now believes at least 109 containers went overboard.
The coast guard said there are two adrift containers with hazardous goods, a number that remains unchanged from previous estimates. Contents of the other overboard containers include toys, clothing, automotive parts, industrial parts and furniture.
The coast guard said some of the containers may have sunk and an environmental unit will assess potential impacts.
The coast guard also said four containers and some debris are on the beach at Cape Scott on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.
None of those containers were carrying hazardous materials, it said. At least one of the containers, carrying refrigerators, appeared to have broken open, the coast guard said.
“The location is remote and rugged, and planning for recovery operations is underway,” the coast guard wrote on Twitter.
Officials say they are still not sure what sparked the fire in several containers aboard the MV Zim Kingston, which is now anchored at the Constance Bank Anchorage south of Victoria, B.C.
Crews were able to safely conduct a more thorough survey of the ship’s bays on Tuesday now that the fire is under control.
— With files from The Canadian Press