A large German oil tanker caught fire off the Baltic coast today following reports of an explosion, sparking a major rescue operation.
The tanker ‘Annika’, which is 73 metres (240ft) long, began burning at 9:15am local time while anchored in the Bay of Mecklenburg, near the seaside resort of Kuhlungsborn.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a large explosion this morning before enormous clouds of smoke began rising from the ship, visible from the shore.
Seven crew members were onboard the Annika at the time, all of whom have since been rescued. Multiple injuries have been reported, but details are scarce at this time.
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An emergency tug boat immediately set out to unload and cool the ship before other vessels joined to fight the flames and evacuate those onboard. The survivors were evacuated by the sea rescue boat “Wilma Sikorski” of the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People (DGzRS).
The tanker was anchored and attached to the tug boat.
A spokeswoman for the Cuxhaven Emergency Command, which is leading the rescue operation, told local media that the tanker currently has 640 tonnes of heavy oil on board.
“A fire broke out on the Annika tanker on Friday morning,” the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies said. “All seven crew members on board were picked up and brought to shore.”
The Annika sails under the German flag and was built in 2012.