Two Russian oil tankers with 29 crew members on board have sunk within the Black Sea amid unhealthy climate and at the moment are leaking oil, Russian authorities have mentioned.
Video posted on Telegram by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office, which the BBC has been unable to confirm, seems to indicate one of many tankers damaged in half and sinking amid a heavy storm, with streaks of oil seen within the water.
At least one crew member is believed to have died – and Russian authorities are investigating for felony negligence, in accordance with TASS information company.
The incident befell within the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from occupied Crimea.
A rescue and clean-up operation is beneath method involving tugboats, helicopters and greater than 50 personnel, TASS information company reported.
“Today, because of a storm within the Black Sea, two tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank,” Russia’s federal sea and inland water transport company, Rosmorrechflot, wrote in an announcement.
“There had been crews of 15 and 14 folks on board the ships. The accident resulted in a spill of oil merchandise,” it continued.
Both tankers have a loading capability of about 4,200 tonnes of oil, Reuters information company reported.
The full extent of the oil spill stays unclear.
