Iranian oil tanker burning off the coast of China sinks after more than a week

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Chloe Chaplain14 January 2018

An Iranian oil tanker that collided with a grain ship off the coast of China has finally sunk after burning in the sea for more than a week.

Chinese media said on Sunday that the ship went down into the ocean after “suddenly igniting”

The tanker had been carrying 136,000 metric tons of condensate, a type of ultra-light oil, but officials said there was no major slick on the water.

All 32 crew members on board are believed to have died.

Smoke and flames billowing from the burning oil tanker "Sanchi"
AFP/Getty Images

The Panama-registered tanker Sanchi was sailing from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal in the East China Sea, 160 miles off the coast of Shanghai.

Rescue crews were fighting to bring the fire under control and find the crew of 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis.

China, South Korea and the US sent ships and planes to search for Sanchi’s crew.

AFP/Getty Images

All 21 crew members of the Crystal, which was carrying grain from the United States to China, were rescued, the Chinese ministry said. The Crystal’s crew members were all Chinese nationals.

Photos distributed by the South Korean government showed the tanker on fire and shrouded in thick black smoke.