PORT ANGELES — The Canadian Coast Guard now says at least 109 shipping containers tumbled into the Pacific Ocean in rough seas Friday near the Strait of Juan de Fuca entrance, not 40, as was originally reported. The number of containers with hazardous goods, two, has not changed.
The Coast Guard also reported that four containers from the South Korean ship Zim Kingston have been spotted on shore near Cape Scott today, on the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Those containers have been identified, referenced against the ship manifest, and do not contain hazardous chemicals.
At least one of the boxes, containing refrigerators, has broken open. The location is remote and rugged, and planning for recovery operations is underway.
Contents of other containers that went overboard include toys, clothing, auto parts and furniture. Some of the containers have sunk.
A Coast Guard overflight of the ship, which is anchored, shows smoldering but no visible flames in the containers.
Mariners, aircraft and members of the public in the area are asked to report any sightings of containers and are reminded to avoid opening or moving containers as two of the 109 containers contain hazardous chemicals.