Two Russian oil tankers with 29 crew members on board have sunk within the Black Sea amid dangerous climate and are leaking oil, Russian authorities stated.
Video posted on Telegram by Russia’s Southern Transport Prosecutor’s Office, which the BBC has not been capable of confirm, seems to point out one of many tankers breaking in half and sinking within the midst of 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 line with the TASS information company.
The accident occurred within the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from occupied Crimea.
A rescue and clean-up operation involving tugboats, helicopters and greater than 50 folks is underway, the TASS information company reported.
“Today, following a storm within the Black Sea, two oil tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank,” Russia’s federal company for maritime and inland water transport, Rosmorrechflot, wrote in an announcement. .
“There have been crews of 15 and 14 folks on board the ships. The accident precipitated a spill of petroleum merchandise,” the word continues.
Both tankers have a carrying capability of round 4,200 tonnes of oil, Reuters information company reported.
The true extent of the oil spill will not be but clear.
