About 10.5 million crude oil leaked to waters off the western coast of South Korea on Friday after an oil tanker and a barge collided early on the day, the Korean Maritime Police said at a news release.

 

The accident occurred at 07:15 local time (2215 GMT Thursday) in waters 6 miles northwest off the seashore of Taean Peninsula, South Chungcheon Province when the 146,000-ton tanker Hebei Sprit collided with a South Korean barge ship, the maritime police said.

 

According to the coast guard, the Hebei Spirit was registered in Hong Kong, while the barge ship belongs to a South Korean company.

 

There are no reports about casualties in the accident.

 

However, the coast guard said the leaked oil has already spread to an area of 2 km wide and 7.4 km long.

 

The South Korean government has sent 57 vessels and 4 helicopters to the spot to prevent further spreading of the floating oil.

 

According to the local news website of Money Today, the Hebei Spirit was at anchor when the South Korean barge ship collided into the larboard of the oil tanker.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 7, 2007)