STOCKHOLM, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Urgent work to contain an oil spill was underway on Monday after a passenger ferry ran aground off the coast of southern Sweden.

The 150-meter-long Marco Polo ran aground en route from Trelleborg to Karlshamn on Sunday. The Swedish Coast Guard said the ship had hit the ground twice, leaking oil for several nautical miles before it eventually got stuck.

"The oil spill stretches over a distance of five kilometers out at sea and once it reaches the shore the cleanup will take a long time," said Erik Svensson, who is coordinating the operation.

The Coast Guard said there was no risk that the ship would sink, but the inclement weather forecast for Tuesday is expected to hamper the containment operation.

All 71 passengers onboard Marco Polo were evacuated on Sunday, and the Coast Guard has launched a criminal investigation to determine the cause of the accident and subsequent leak. Enditem

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