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Storm-beaten oil tankers were carrying nearly 9,000 tons of mazut — emergencies service

Both tankers were seriously damaged, with the foreship of one of them being torn off by a wave

MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. The two oil tankers that were damaged by a storm in the Black Sea were carrying nearly 9,000 tons of mazut, a spokesman for the emergencies services told TASS.

"Each tanker was carrying approximately 4,300 tons of fuel," he said, adding that efforts are being taken to verify the amount of fuel spill. Both tankers were seriously damaged, with the foreship of one of them being torn off by a wave.

According to earlier reports, two oil tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, were damaged in a storm in the Kerch Strain in the Black Sea. One of the vessels, Volgoneft 212, ran aground, its crew was evacuated. One of the 13 crew members died. The other tanker, lied to drift and also ran ashore 80 meters off the coast. There are 14 crewmembers aboard. The damage caused an oil spill emergency. Two criminal probes have been launched.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was briefed about the accident and ordered to organize rescue efforts. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin set up a working group to coordinate cleanup operations.

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