8 Sailors Missing in Black Sea

Storm claims 10 ships, at least 3 lives; rescue and cleanup efforts stalled
By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 12, 2007 8:12 AM CST
8 Sailors Missing in Black Sea
People look at a ships thrown on the rocks by fierce storm in the Kerch strait linking the Black and Azov seas in this image made from television broadcast Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007. Massive waves split a Russian oil tanker in two during a fierce storm, spilling at least 2,000 metric tons (560,000 gallons)...   (Associated Press)

Eight sailors are still missing in the storm that claimed an oil tanker and up to 10 other ships yesterday in the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Akov. Three bodies have been recovered. Four ships have sunk, including the tanker that dumped 1.3 million gallons of oil; at least two of the other ships carried hazardous cargo, including 6,000  tons of sulfur.

The continuing high seas have limited containment efforts, which are projected to take years; a second storm may be on its way.  The Soviet-era oil tanker was designed to navigate rivers, not open sea, the regional prosecutor told local press. (More Black Sea stories.)

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