The Sanchi, which was carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil has been in flames since colliding with a bulk freighter, and 31 sailors remain missing
Six days after a fire broke out on an Iranian oil tanker off the coast of China, firefighters are still struggling to extinguish the blaze, as criticism mounted in Tehran over whether enough was being done to locate dozens of its missing crew members.
The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran to South Korea, has been in flames since colliding with the CF Crystal, a Hong Kong-registered bulk freighter, 160 nautical miles east of Shanghai on Saturday.
One body has been found but 31 sailors – mainly Iranians – remain missing with officials in Iran hoping they have found sanctuary on an unaffected part of the vessel.
Cleanup and rescue ships have faced toxic fumes, strong winds, rain and waves up to four metres high as they scrambled to find survivors and avoid a massive oil slick since Saturday’s incident.
China’s transport ministry said on Thursday evening the Panamanian-flagged 274-metre (899ft) tanker remained on fire, adding two ships had spent the day spraying the vessel with retardant foam.
