Oil Tanker Sinks off Spanish Coast

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Oil Tanker Sinks off Spanish Coast

The stricken tanker, Prestige, sank off Galicia, northwestern Spain, on Tuesday and both the stern and bow parts are under water, the local media reported.

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The stricken tanker, Prestige, sank off Galicia, northwestern Spain, on Tuesday and both the stern and bow parts are under water, the local media reported.

Spanish officials said 5,000 to 6,000 tons of fuel leaked from the Bahamian-flagged tanker when it began to break up last Wednesday. However, as the tanker was towed out to sea, another 5,000 tons of oil spilled out, leaving a 17 km oil slick in its wake.

The local media said oil has polluted the coastline and about 1,000 local fishermen have lost their livelihoods because of the environmental disaster.

The Prestige was carrying more than 70,000 tons of fuel oil from Latvia to Gibraltar, but ran into trouble off the coast of Galicia in very rough weather.

After the tanker cracked open, the Spanish sent tugs to tow it as far as possible away from the craggy coast of Galicia, which isfamous for its summer tourism and abounds in seafood.

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