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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Crews missing in Black Sea storm | Crews missing in Black Sea storm |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Rescuers are searching for 20 sailors missing after a powerful storm hit the Azov and Black Seas on Sunday. | Rescuers are searching for 20 sailors missing after a powerful storm hit the Azov and Black Seas on Sunday. |
| Russian officials say four ships have sunk, including an oil tanker, and four others could break up. The bodies of three sailors have been found. | Russian officials say four ships have sunk, including an oil tanker, and four others could break up. The bodies of three sailors have been found. |
| 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. |
| A big clean-up operation is under way, amid fears of an environmental disaster in the region. | A big clean-up operation is under way, amid fears of an environmental disaster in the region. |
| At least two other ships were carrying potentially hazardous cargos when they sank, including nearly 6,000 tons of sulphur. | At least two other ships were carrying potentially hazardous cargos when they sank, including nearly 6,000 tons of sulphur. |
| A new storm warning in the region was issued again on Monday. | A new storm warning in the region was issued again on Monday. |
| Investigation | Investigation |
| 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. |
| Russian TV showed pictures of other stricken boats href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7080000/newsid_7089700?redirect=7089788.stm&news=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Leaking tanker | |
| The tanker's 13 crew were rescued after several hours. So far, 35 sailors from the sunk vessels have been plucked to safety. | The tanker's 13 crew were rescued after several hours. So far, 35 sailors from the sunk vessels have been plucked to safety. |
| The bodies of three sailors from the stricken ships were found on Monday morning, but five others are still missing, Russian officials say. | The bodies of three sailors from the stricken ships were found on Monday morning, but five others are still missing, Russian officials say. |
| Some 300km (187 miles) to the south-west, rescue teams are continuing their search for another 15 sailors missing after a a scrap metal ship went down near the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. | Some 300km (187 miles) to the south-west, rescue teams are continuing their search for another 15 sailors missing after a a scrap metal ship went down near the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. |
| A second oil tanker in the region is being monitored closely because its hull has developed cracks. | A second oil tanker in the region 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. |
| Russian prosecutors say they are investigating whether the ships' captains ignored warnings of the approaching storm. | Russian prosecutors say they are investigating whether the ships' captains ignored warnings of the approaching 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. |
| Have you been affected by this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | Have you been affected by this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: |