Fears of explosion, environmental hazard as tanker continues to leak oil days after collision with cargo ship

Two days after an oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off China’s east coast causing oil leaks in the area; there are growing fears of a possible explosion and environmental hazard.

According to Chinese officials, the tanker which had been sailing to Daesan, South Korea from Kharg Island, Iran, before it collided with the cargo ship is in danger of exploding and sinking.

Read also: CHINA: 32 people declared missing after tanker and ship collision in Shangai

Reports say rescuers trying to reach the burning tanker were beaten back by toxic clouds, with rescue officials informing that the body of one crewman, among the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on board, has been found with the rest still missing.

Eight Chinese ships have been sent for the search and rescue operation, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.

The collision, in the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, occurred on Saturday evening and the exact cause of the collision is not yet known.

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