Kollam: A massive fire broke out early Sunday morning at a boat-anchoring point on Ashtamudi Lake in Kollam, destroying around fifteen fishing boats. No casualties were reported.

The blaze erupted at about 2:30 a.m. near the Kureepuzha church, close to the Ayyankovil temple. The exact cause remains unclear. Many of the damaged boats reportedly belonged to fishermen from Tamil Nadu.

Gas cylinders stored on the boats exploded during the fire, making it impossible for anyone to approach the area. Several nearby Chinese fishing nets also caught fire. Fire and rescue units from across the district, along with local residents, reached the site around 3:45 a.m., but the intensity of the flames prevented close access. Some boats moored nearby were untied and moved to safety, and additional Chinese nets were secured to prevent the fire from spreading further.

A similar incident had occurred on 22 November, when two anchored fishing boats caught fire in the afternoon. Raju and Ashok, both natives of Andhra Pradesh, suffered minor injuries. On that day, the boats—Hallelujah owned by Raju Valliyarin and Jehovah owned by Plasid George of Shakthikulangara—caught fire after flames spread from a cooking area. As the boats were untied and became stuck in the mud, a major disaster was averted. In contrast, Sunday’s incident occurred at night and was discovered much later.