Tanker sinks after collision
2005-01-26 08:24
Beijing - Four people are missing after an oil tanker sank, spewing out its cargo, after hitting another ship in southern Chinese waters on Wednesday, maritime officials and state media said.
The collision happened 20km to the east of Nan'ao Island near Shantou, a coastal city in China's Guangdong province, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to the Guangdong Maritime Affairs Bureau, the oil tanker was carrying 1 000 tons of light diesel oil when it hit the empty cargo vessel.
The tanker sunk within 10 minutes, forcing all its crew to abandon ship.
The 1 400-ton cargo vessel was holed but is not in danger of sinking, the bureau said.
Xinhua said nine of the crew members had been rescued and four were missing.
"The ship sunk and part of the oil has spilled out. We expect it all to spill out," a Shantou Martime Affairs Bureau official said.
He said six boats were working to clean up a 100m by 30m oil slick.
The cause of the collision was under investigation.
- AFP