KRASNODAR, December 28. /TASS/. Rescue workers and volunteers have gathered 37,000 tons of sand and soil contaminated by petroleum products since the start of the oil spill on coasts of the Krasnodar Region following the shipwreck of tankers, with 33,500 tons having been removed, according to a statement by the region’s crisis center released on Telegram.

"Volunteers, rescue workers and special services have already gathered 37,000 tons of contaminated soil. Some 33,500 tons of sand contaminated with fuel oil have been removed. Almost 8,000 people were employed in this work today," the statement reads.

The Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239 tankers sank in the Black Sea on December 15 amid a storm. One sailor died, the rest were evacuated. According to the emergency services, the tankers were carrying about 9,200 tons of fuel oil. An oil spill occurred in the Black Sea as a result of the accident. Clean-up operations are underway.