The Iranian oil tanker, ImOstchinesischen for more than a week, has sunk after a report by Chinese state television. Mittlerweilebefinde He is in an area that belongs to Japan, reported television station on Sunday. The tanker crashed on January 6 with a Chinese cargo ship and caught fire.

The Iranian Ministry of Transport confirmed death of all 30 Iranian seamen. There was no information at first about whereabouts of two Bangladeshi crew members. The ministry was still hoping to find survivors, but had to give up this hope, said Vice Minister Mohammed Rastad. Moreover, it is unlikely that corpses could be recovered after ship has sunk, according to information of news agency Isna.

President Hassan Ruhani spoke to relatives of victims of his compassion. The authorities would have to identify causes of accident, he said. Legal action may be necessary.

On board Chinese cargo ship CF Crystal, 21 crew members had been found. They were reported as safe.

DasUnglück occurred 300 kilometers off Chinese coast. The extent of oil pollution is not yet foreseeable. China has been preparing for an oil spill since accident. The Sanchi had loaded 136,000 tonnes of crude oil that ship had gradually lost since collision. The market value of cargo was around 60 million dollars. When it comes into contact with water, condensate evaporates very quickly. The resulting gas is highly explosive and toxic.

Time Online Date Of Update: 15 January 2018, 12:02