Last Sunday the Iranian tanker Sanchi sank after colliding with a Hong Kong freighter. Now, the Chinese authorities have detected that, after the collision, there has been an oil slick of about 10 miles (18,5 kilometers).
What impacts does this oil slick have?
They investigate the black box of the Sanchi tanker
To assess the possible impacts the oil spill may have, State Ocean Administration Technicians are studying the extent of the spill. The tanker it was transporting 136.000 tons of condensed oil.
A part of that cargo burned during the fire that consumed the ship for a week, after a collision with a merchant ship on January 6 in the waters of the East China Sea.
The technicians have managed to rescue the black box of the tanker in order to investigate the causes that led to the accident.
Lessen the impact
Coming from Japan and South Korea, many media and ships have helped China to put out the Sanchi fire and to rescue its crew.
All 32 crew members are estimated to be dead, although only three bodies have been recovered.
The Chinese economic portal Caixin has cited several experts in maritime safety and biology and they agree that the Sanchi had to be bombed to make the fuel have been burned before sinking, since it was carrying some 2.000 tons of heavy fuel oil.
Letting the tanker sink by itself is the worst option they have been able to do, as it will be continuously seeping oil from the underwater bed. about 100 meters deep, damaging all the surrounding flora and fauna and fishing resources.
This is another environmental catastrophe that leaves only damage and destruction to the world's marine ecosystems. As soon as the reasons for the accident are known, action can be taken to prevent more accidents like this one.