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Collision of Oil Tanker and Cargo Ship in North Sea Leads to Major Rescue Operation
An oil tanker and a cargo ship collided off the eastern coast of England on Monday, resulting in both vessels igniting and prompting a significant emergency response from local authorities.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency of the UK reported that multiple lifeboats and a coast guard rescue helicopter were mobilized to the vicinity in the North Sea. Additional support was provided by a coast guard aircraft and nearby ships equipped for firefighting.
According to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, there were indications that several individuals had evacuated the ships following the incident, as flames engulfed both vessels. Three lifeboats joined forces with the coast guard in conducting search and rescue operations at the site.
Video footage broadcast by BBC News and reportedly captured from a neighboring ship displayed thick plumes of black smoke emanating from both vessels.
The tanker is believed to be the MV Stena Immaculate, a U.S.-flagged chemical and oil products carrier, which was anchored after its journey from Greece, according to information from the ship-tracking platform VesselFinder. Meanwhile, the cargo ship involved in the collision, the Portugal-flagged container vessel Solong, was en route from Grangemouth in Scotland to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
The coast guard reported that the alarm was raised at 9:48 a.m. local time. The collision occurred off the coast of Hull, situated approximately 155 miles north of London.
This is a developing story. Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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