Russia ships sink during storm

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-12-2007 09:19

Five-metre high waves have sunk three ships in the Kerch Strait. A Russian oil tanker was smashed tonnes of fuel oil into the strait that divides Russia and Ukraine.(AFP Graphic)

A fierce storm has left as many as ten ships sunk or run aground in the Strait of Kerch and in the nearby area of the Black Sea.

Massive waves split a Russian oil tanker in two during a fierce storm on Sunday, spilling at least 560-thousand gallons of fuel into a strait leading to the Black Sea.

Ships are seen in choppy waters near Russia's port Kavkaz in southern Russia, November 11, 2007.  REUTERS/Vladimir Kondratov (RUSSIA)

Officials say it's one of the worst environmental disasters in the region in years. Meanwhile, stormy weather has been preventing emergency workers from collecting the spilled oil.

The high waves also sank two Russian freighters nearby, in the Strait of Kerch. Rescuers saved all the crew members from one of the freighters but eight sailors from the second vessel are missing.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei