An oil tanker has burst into flames after being struck by a cargo vessel in a dramatic maritime collision off the Humber Estuary near Hull, raising fears of a potential environmental disaster.
The US-flagged tanker, MV Stena Immaculate, believed to be carrying jet fuel and other chemicals, was hit while at anchor this morning by the Portugal-flagged container ship, MV Solong.
Dramatic footage shared to UKNIP shows towering plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky as both vessels burn, with flames clearly visible from the shoreline.
A massive search and rescue operation is now underway as emergency services race to control the blaze and secure the area.
Emergency Response Launched
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard confirmed the emergency call was received at 9.48am and said efforts to contain the incident are ongoing.
“HM Coastguard is currently co-ordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire,” the spokesperson said.
“A rescue helicopter from Humberside was called to the scene, alongside lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes, a fixed-wing Coastguard aircraft, and nearby vessels with firefighting capabilities.”
Specialist fire response ships have also been deployed, with crews desperately attempting to douse the flames before the fire causes further damage or a hazardous spill into the estuary’s fragile marine environment.
Fears of Environmental Catastrophe
Maritime experts have raised serious concerns about a potential ecological crisis, given the highly flammable cargo onboard the MV Stena Immaculate.
One post by Navy Lookout on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) stated:
“Search & Rescue helicopters attending oil tanker MV Stena Immaculate on fire after being struck by container ship MV Solong while at anchor off the Humber Estuary this morning.”
So far, the extent of injuries, if any, remains unclear, and authorities have not confirmed how many crew members were onboard either vessel at the time of the collision.
Public Urged to Stay Clear
Residents and onlookers near the estuary have been urged to stay away from the area, as thick smoke continues to spread and the risk of further explosions or hazardous chemical leaks remains high.
The situation is still developing, and officials are expected to issue further updates as the emergency response progresses.
Stay with us for the latest on this breaking story.
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