An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the coast of eastern England on Monday, setting both vessels on fire and prompting a large-scale rescue effort, emergency services reported.
The incident occurred at 9:48 AM GMT when the U.S.-flagged chemical and oil products carrier MV Stena Immaculate, which was anchored after sailing from Greece, was struck by the Portugal-flagged container ship MV Solong. The Solong was en route from Grangemouth, Scotland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, when the collision took place off the coast of Hull, approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) north of London.
Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency quickly launched a rescue operation, deploying multiple search and rescue helicopters, lifeboats, a fixed-wing aircraft, and firefighting-equipped vessels to the scene in the North Sea. The RNLI lifeboat agency reported that several crew members had abandoned their vessels due to the fires on both ships.
Video footage aired by the BBC, apparently filmed from a nearby vessel, showed thick black smoke billowing from the burning ships as emergency responders worked to contain the situation.
Authorities have yet to confirm the cause of the collision or provide details on potential casualties. The situation remains critical as emergency teams continue efforts to bring the fires under control and ensure the safety of those involved.
