China welcomes other parties to join oil tanker disaster clean up

Record ID: 1373632

  • Title: China welcomes other parties to join oil tanker disaster clean up
  • Date: 15th January 2018
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 15, 2018) (REUTERS) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG, SAYING: "The fire that happened after the collision was extremely dangerous. Despite this, Chinese rescue workers, at considerable risk to their safety and lives, made a number of approaches to the stricken vessel, to carry out search and rescue and firefighting operations from a close proximity, showing a high degree of professionalism. Before the Sanchi suddenly exploded Chinese rescue workers risked their lives and boarded the boat to recover two bodies. They also brought back this ship's voyage data recorder, which is also known as the black box." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG, SAYING: "I believe that finding this black box will perhaps help towards establishing a more accurate grasp of the cause of this accident. Only then can we begin discussing the next stage of work." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN LU KANG, SAYING: "This work has always been a priority for us. It's also an area that China has made an effort in as it has been prioritised. Nobody wants to see a large scale disaster like this. At the same time I still wish to reiterate that China, throughout this entire process of dealing with this East China Sea ship accident, has held out a transparent and open attitude. We support and welcome all other relevant parties to join in the relevant search and rescue and clean-up operations." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 29th January 2018 10:38
  • Keywords: China oil disaster recovery efforts Chinese foreign ministry Sanchi Iranian oil tanker
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA / EAST CHINA SEA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA / EAST CHINA SEA
  • Country: Various
  • Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Sea Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA0017Y82345
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday (January 15) that external parties are welcome to join in the clean-up operation of the Iranian oil tanker which sank in the East China Sea.
    Oil was spread over an area 13 km long and 11 km wide according to the Japanese Coast Guard. The Iranian ship's sinking marks the biggest tanker spill since 1991, when 260,000 tonnes of oil leaked off the Angolan coast.
    The tanker, called Sanchi, had been ablaze after crashing into the freighter CF Crystal on January 6 and had drifted into Japan's exclusive economic zone.
    The Chinese Foreign Ministry said rescue workers had boarded the ship and recovered two bodies on Saturday (January 13) as well as the ship's voyage data recorder, after a body was found at sea earlier. Iran said the rest of the 29 crew members were presumed dead.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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