Two Russian oil tankers with 29 crew members on board have sunk within the Black Sea amid dangerous climate and are actually leaking oil, Russian authorities have stated.
Video rising on social media, which the BBC has been unable to confirm, seems to indicate one of many tankers damaged in half and sinking amid a heavy storm, with streaks of oil seen within the water.
The incident came about within the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from occupied Crimea.
A rescue and clean-up operation is underway involving two tugboats, two helicopters and greater than 50 personnel, TASS information company reported.
“As we speak, on account of a storm within the Black Sea, two tankers, Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239, sank,” Russia’s federal sea and inland water transport company, Rosmorrechflot, wrote in an announcement.
“There have been crews of 15 and 14 individuals on board the ships. The accident resulted in a spill of oil merchandise,” it continued.