Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
November 12, 2007

Black Sea Storm Sinks Five Ships, Kills Three Sailors
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A38CC7:A6F02AD83191E16039E2AAFF67E6287A7F0EB4B66EA3A89D Russia says the
resulting oil spill is an environmental disaster that could take years
to clean up Russian authorities say rescuers have recovered the bodies
of three sailors killed in a powerful storm that sank at least five
ships in waters between Russia and Ukraine Sunday.

The storm smashed apart a Russian oil tanker anchored between the
Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, spilling two-thousand metric tons of
fuel oil into the Kerch Strait off Ukraine. Thirteen crew members
trapped aboard a section of the Volganeft-139 were rescued late
Sunday.

Russian officials are calling the oil spill an environmental disaster
that could take several years to clean up.

The storm also sank four other cargo ships, killing two sailors.
Officials say three of the ships were carrying sulfur.  Several
sailors from those ships are still missing.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible criminal
charges.

The Kerch Strait is a major migration route for birds and is also home
to porpoises. Some information for this report was provided by AP and
Reuters.


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