A Russian tanker carrying thousands of tonnes of petroleum products broke apart during a severe storm on Sunday, spilling oil into the Kerch Strait, while another tanker was also in distress after sustaining damage, Russian officials said.
At least one person died.
The 136-meter oil tanker Volgoneft 212, with 15 people on board, was split in half and its bow sank, according to images published by state media, with waves hitting its deck.
The Russian-flagged ship, built in 1969, was damaged and ran aground, officials said.
“There has been a leak of petroleum products,” said Russia’s water transport agency, Rosmorrechflot.
A second Russian-flagged ship, the 132-meter Volgoneft 239, was adrift after suffering damage, the emergency ministry said. It has a crew of 14 and was built in 1973.
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Both tankers have a carrying capacity of around 4,200 tons of petroleum products.
Official statements did not provide details about the extent of the spill or why one of the tankers suffered such serious damage.
The ships were in the Kerch Strait, between mainland Russia and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, when they issued distress signals.
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Russia said more than 50 people and equipment, including Mi-8 helicopters and rescue tugs, were sent to the area.
Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that the Volgoneft 212 tanker was carrying around 4,300 tons of fuel oil.
An unverified video posted on Telegram showed darkened water in stormy seas and a half-submerged oil tanker.
