Page "Ourang Medan" Paragraph 3

Bainton and others hypothesize that the Ourang Medan might have been involved in smuggling operations of chemical substances such as a combination of potassium cyanide and nitroglycerin or even wartime stocks of nerve agents.

According to these theories, sea water would have entered the ship's hold, reacting with the cargo to release toxic gases, which then caused the crew to succumb to asphyxia and / or poisoning.

Later, the sea water would have reacted with the nitroglycerin, causing the reported fire and explosion.