Sunday, July 30

Today, we have some 'fiery' news for you! Let's dive in.

Contents:

1. Burning Dutch Ship Starting Towing Process

2. Massive Fireworks Explosion Kills 10 in Thailand

3. Tour de France: Who Won?

4. Quote/Word of the Day

The burning cargo ship off of the coast of the Netherlands is still ablaze after five days of efforts to put the fire out, so authorities are finally starting to tow the ship. One firefighter has been killed amongst the all-Indian crew, and conditions are still quite dangerous aboard the ship. It is carrying over 500 new electric vehicles and about 3,000 various other new cars (such as hybrid, gasoline, and diesel-powered vehicles), but the prime suspect for the cause of the fire is an EV. The ship is specifically carrying Mercedes-Benz and BMW electric cars, which seem to be what ignited the blaze, but nothing has been confirmed yet. Tugboats could be seen controlling the area in past days as they redirected other ships around the burning one, but the towing process is finally starting as officials have deemed the boat safe enough to be towed. The process was delayed by several days after winds caused the fire to become worse, and firefighters had to limit their water usage to put out the fire; if the cargo ship became full of water, it would quickly sink. Officials are extremely worried of an environmental disaster if it sinks, because gasoline and diesel would leak into the ocean, car parts and batteries could release harmful chemicals, and the ship's fuel could also spill into a zone that is very ecologically sensitive. Now that the winds have calmed and the fire has died down, authorities have commenced the 12-hour procedure to bring the flaming ship to shore.

On another note, a massive explosion at a fireworks facility in Thailand killed 10 people and injured at least 100 others on Saturday, after sparks supposedly caused a deadly chain reaction. The spark is suspected to have come from a welder doing construction work inside the warehouse, and ignited the fireworks inside the warehouse. The explosion caused severe damage to anything within a 1,640-foot radius, damaging over 500 homes and reducing the warehouse itself to splinters. Clouds of smoke were seen billowing into the sky at the scene, and streets were covered with rubble as the blast destroyed houses, vehicles, roads, and various other buildings.

Lastly, Sunday was the last day of Tour de France, the famous bike race! To figure out the winner (and some more information/stats), check out this article by Mihir Gupta!

Quote of the Day (BrainyQuote): This is the precept by which I have lived: Prepare for the worst; expect the best; and take what comes. (Hannah Arendt)

Word of the Day: Saudade- A deep emotional state of melancholic longing for a person or thing that is absent.