Tunisian authorities intensified efforts on Saturday to avoid an environmental disaster after a merchant fuel ship carrying one thousand tons of fuel sank off Gabes on Friday (April 15), two security sources told Reuters.
The Tunisian navy had rescued all seven crew members from the ship, which was heading from Equatorial Guinea to Malta, and sent a distress call seven miles away from the southern city of Gabes, the sources added.
The cause of the incident was bad weather, the environment ministry said, adding that water had seeped into the ship, reaching a height of two metres.
Authorities were working to avoid an environmental disaster and reduce any impact, the ministry said in a statement.
Tunisian authorities are working to prevent damage to the environment. Bad weather has been cited as the cause of the incident, according to the Tunisian Environment Ministry. The ship was flooded with water.
Some countries have offered to help Tunisia prevent damage to the environment, the Tunisian defence ministry said on Sunday.
The defence ministry said in a statement that to control the environmental damage the Tunisian navy will work with countries that have expressed their desire to help.
Italy had offered to help and it is expected to send a naval vessel specialized in dealing with marine disasters, local media said.
TunisianMonitorOnline
