Rescuers are searching for more than 20 sailors reported missing after a powerful storm hit the Sea of Azov and parts of the Black Sea on Sunday.
Rescuers are searching for eight sailors reported missing after a powerful storm hit the Sea of Azov and parts of the Black Sea on Sunday.
Russian officials say four ships have sunk, including an oil tanker, and four others are in danger of breaking up.
Russian officials say four ships have sunk, including an oil tanker, and four others are in danger of breaking up.
Up to 2,000 metric tons of fuel oil have leaked from the tanker in the Kerch Strait, which links the two seas.
Up to 2,000 metric tons of fuel oil have leaked from the tanker in the Kerch Strait, which links the two seas.
Bad weather is preventing a clean-up operation, prompting fears of an environmental disaster in the area.
Bad weather is preventing a clean-up operation, prompting fears of an environmental disaster in the area.
At least two other ships were carrying potentially hazardous cargos when they sank, including thousands of ton of sulphur.
At least two other ships were carrying potentially hazardous cargos when they sank, including thousands of ton of sulphur.
Bodies found
Bodies found
The Russian oil tanker Volganeft-139 came apart after it was smashed by 108km/h (67 mph) winds and 5m (16ft) waves in the narrow Kerch Strait between Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian oil tanker Volganeft-139 came apart after it was smashed by 108km/h (67 mph) winds and 5m (16ft) waves in the narrow Kerch Strait between Russia and Ukraine.
The tanker's 13 crew were rescued after several hours. In total, more than 20 sailors from the sunk vessels have now been saved.
The tanker's 13 crew were rescued after several hours. More than 20 sailors from the sunk vessels have now been saved, although the total number rescued remains unclear.
But more than 20 others are still reported missing, including crew members from a scrap metal ship that went down near Sevastopol on Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.
But eight others are still reported missing. The bodies of three people believed to be from the stricken ships were found on Monday morning, Russian news agencies say.
The bodies of three people believed to be from the sunk ships were found on Monday morning, Russian news agencies say.
A second oil tanker is being monitored closely because its hull has developed cracks.
A second oil tanker is being monitored closely because its hull has developed cracks.
Yet more ships have run aground or slipped anchor and are drifting at the mercy of the storm.
Yet more ships have run aground or slipped anchor and are drifting at the mercy of the storm.
'Sinking to seabed'
'Sinking to seabed'
The Volganeft-139 was at anchor when its stern tore apart in Ukrainian waters on the busy waterway dividing that country and Russia, officials said.
The Volganeft-139 was at anchor when its stern tore apart in Ukrainian waters on the busy waterway dividing that country and Russia, officials said.
A regional prosecutor told local media the tanker was designed in the Soviet era to transport oil on rivers and was not meant to withstand heavy storms.
A regional prosecutor told local media the tanker was designed in the Soviet era to transport oil on rivers and was not meant to withstand heavy storms.
Russian environmentalist Vladimir Slivyak said the tanker accident was a "very serious environmental disaster".
Russian environmentalist Vladimir Slivyak said the tanker accident was a "very serious environmental disaster".
The heavy oil was sinking to the seabed and could take years to clean up, he said.
The heavy oil was sinking to the seabed and could take years to clean up, he said.
But the oil spill is small by comparison with the Prestige disaster off Spain five years ago.
But the oil spill is small by comparison with the Prestige disaster off Spain five years ago.
Severe habitat damage was caused to beaches in Spain, France and Portugal when a tanker leaked 64,000 tons of fuel oil in November 2002.
Severe habitat damage was caused to beaches in Spain, France and Portugal when a tanker leaked 64,000 tons of fuel oil in November 2002.
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