Icon: enlarge
Crimean Bridge over the Kerch Strait (archive image): Tanker accident in the Sea of Azov
Photo: PAVEL REBROV / REUTERS
There was an explosion on a Russian tanker in the Sea of Azov.
According to Russian authorities, a rescue operation with several ships is currently under way to rescue the crew of the "General Hazi Aslanov".
Ten members of the 13-person crew have already been rescued, reports the AP news agency.
The other three crew members could have gone overboard due to the force of the detonation - they are missing.
According to a Russian ministry, the incident occurred while the General Hazi Aslanov was on her way from Port Kawkas to Rostov-on-Don.
The Sea of Azov is an inland sea in the north of the Black Sea.
According to official reports, "General Hazi Aslanov" was not summoning at the time of the incident.
The explosion could therefore have been caused by flammable vapors from a previous charge.
According to the website "Marinetraffic", the oil and chemical tanker is sailing under the Russian flag, is 15 years old and around 140 meters long.
The last signal from the tanker was received several miles north of the Kerch Strait, according to the website.
The strait has been the scene of intense tensions between Russia and Ukraine in the past.
Russian special forces arrested three Ukrainian military boats with 23 men there in 2018.
Icon: The mirror
fek / Reuters / AP