Damaged Russian cargo ships in Kerch Strait cause oil spill emergency

The damage sustained by two Russian oil tankers in a storm caused a spill of oil products in the waters of the Black Sea, the Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport reported on Sunday.

"Today two tankers, Volgoneft 212 and Volgoneft 239, were damaged due to a storm in the waters of the Black Sea. There are 15 people on board of one ship and 14 people on the other. The damage caused an oil spill emergency," the agency specified.

Two rescue tugboats and two helicopters have been dispatched, the agency said.

 All 13 crew members on board a tanker that ran aground in the Kerch Strait on Sunday have been evacuated, one of them has died, the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

"Relief teams taking part in a rescue operation in the Kerch Strait have evacuated all 13 crew members from a vessel that ran aground. Unfortunately, one of them has died," the ministry said in a statement.