World News
Two Russian oil tankers sink in Black Sea: What we know about the location, victims, ecological disaster
Two oil tankers off the coast of Crimea have sunk, leading to thousands of tons of oil being spilled and an intense search and rescue operation.
Rough conditions coupled with unsuitable vessels for naval transport on the Black Sea have led to the sinking of two Russian oil tankers. At least one of the two, the Volgoneft-212, carries around 4,300 tonnes of petroleum, of which around 4,000 tons have already been released into the sea. The other vessel taken out by the storm is the Volgoneft-239, which, according to VesselFinder, was around 17 meters long.
Where were the boats?
According to the online ship tracking platform Vessel Finder, the ships were located around 8 miles off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in the Kerch Strait. Crimea formed part of Ukraine until Russia took over in 2014. The satellite images show nearly a dozen ships responding to the accident as the rescue operation continues.
The incident was captured on video and shows the tanker taking on water after encountering massive waves just off the coast of Crimea. From the videos circulating online, it appears that at least one of the boats snapped in half, giving the crew very little time to deploy lifeboats safely during the severe storm.
How many people were hurt?
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with each vessel holding a combined crew of twenty-nine individuals. The Moscow Times reported that one sailor had been killed in the accident and that thirteen had been rescued, but no official statements have yet to be released.
Ukrainian government officials are using the event as a case of Russian irresponsibility, with the spokesperson for the Ukrainian navy noting that the ships were old and in no condition to “go to sea in such a storm.” The Guardian reported that one of the ships that sank, the Volgoneft-212, was 55 years old, and though it had recently been “refitted,” it was still unable to weather the dangerous conditions.
How does this oil spill compare to some of the worst?
The oil spill will harm marine life and the coastal communities that rely on the sea for their livelihoods, including fishermen.
For a historical comparison, the Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill led to the spillage of around 92,000 tonnes of oil in 1978, highlighting that while an extensive amount of petroleum has been released, the total amount is far less than some of the most catastrophic spills that have been seen over the last five decades.
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