CHINA COAST COLLISION

Burning tanker at risk of explosion

BEIJING: An Iranian oil tanker ablaze off China’s east coast was at risk of exploding or sinking yesterday, as fears grew for 32 missing sailors amid warnings of a potential environmental disaster, reports AFP.

The huge fire was still raging Monday morning around the stricken vessel, which had been carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil, some 36 hours after it collided with a cargo ship.

But China’s English-language state broadcaster CGTN later posted a video on Twitter showing the fire seemingly under control as a second vessel sprayed it with water.

Earlier the transport ministry said rescuers trying to locate the crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis were being beaten back by toxic clouds.

The Panamanian-flagged 274-metre (899-foot) tanker Sanchi is “in danger of exploding or sinking”, the ministry said.

Rescuers had recovered one unidentified body as of Monday afternoon, said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

“Conditions... are not that favourable for search and rescue work,” he said, adding that “we are also investigating how to prevent any secondary disaster.”

The body was found three or four miles from the tanker and “cannot be easily identified” even though the victim had a fire safety vest, Alireza Irvash, from Iran’s consulate in Shanghai, told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB.

The accident happened on Saturday evening 160 nautical miles east of the city.

The tanker, operated by Iran’s Glory Shipping, was heading to South Korea when it collided with a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship, the CF Crystal, carrying 64,000 tonnes of grain.

Ten government vessels and “many fishing ships” were helping with the ongoing rescue and clean up effort, the transport ministry said, adding that a South Korean coastguard ship was also on the scene.

 

CHINA COAST COLLISION

Burning tanker at risk of explosion

BEIJING: An Iranian oil tanker ablaze off Chinas east coast was at risk of exploding or sinking yesterday, as fears grew for 32 missing sailors amid warnings of a potential environmental disaster, reports AFP. The huge fire was still raging Monday morning around the stricken vessel, which had been carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil, some 36 hours after it collided with a cargo ship. But Chinas English-language state broadcaster CGTN later posted a video on Twitter showing the fire seemingly under control as a second vessel sprayed it with water. Earlier the transport ministry said rescuers trying to locate the crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis were being beaten back by toxic clouds. The Panamanian-flagged 274-metre (899-foot) tanker Sanchi is in danger of exploding or sinking, the ministry said. Rescuers had recovered one unidentified body as of Monday afternoon, said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang. Conditions... are not that favourable for search and rescue work, he said, adding that we are also investigating how to prevent any secondary disaster. The body was found three or four miles from the tanker and cannot be easily identified even though the victim had a fire safety vest, Alireza Irvash, from Irans consulate in Shanghai, told Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. The accident happened on Saturday evening 160 nautical miles east of the city. The tanker, operated by Irans Glory Shipping, was heading to South Korea when it collided with a Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship, the CF Crystal, carrying 64,000 tonnes of grain. Ten government vessels and many fishing ships were helping with the ongoing rescue and clean up effort, the transport ministry said, adding that a South Korean coastguard ship was also on the scene.