Huge Oil Spill Spreads in East China Sea, Stirring Environmental Fears

"HONG KONG — An oil spill from an Iranian tanker that sank in the East China Sea is rapidly spreading, officials said Tuesday, alarming environmentalists about the threat to sea and bird life in the waterway.

The tanker, the Sanchi, was carrying 136,000 tons of highly flammable fuel oil when it crashed into a freighter on Jan. 6. On Sunday, the Sanchi sank after a huge blast sent up a great plume of black smoke and set the surface of the water on fire, China Central Television said.

The bodies of three crew members have been recovered, and the remaining 29 were presumed dead, the Iranian government said. Thirty Iranians and two Bangladeshis were believed to have died."

Gerry Mullany reports for the New York Times January 15, 2018.

SEE ALSO:

"Japan Sees Little Chance Of Oil Slick From Sunk Tanker Reaching Its Coast" (Reuters)

"Oil Spill From Sunken Tanker Is Expanding In East China Sea" (AP)