The Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tonnes of oil when it went up in flames
The oil tanker was carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran to South Korea. It had been burning since colliding with the CF Crystal on January 6.
The tanker had a crew of 32 Iranians and 2 Bangladeshis. Sadly, only three bodies have been recovered.
“There is no hope of finding survivors among the members of the crew,” Mohammad Rastad, spokesman for the Iranian rescue team dispatched to Shanghai, told Iran’s state broadcaster in Tehran before the tanker went down.
Rastad said information from members of the Crystal crew suggested all the personnel on the Sanchi died in the first hour of the accident “due to the explosion and the release of gas”.
“Despite our efforts, it has not been possible to extinguish the fire and recover the bodies due to repeated explosions and gas leaks,” he said.
The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil, burst into flames after colliding with a cargo ship
Scenes of anger and grief erupted in Tehran as news of the deaths reached dozens of family, friends and colleagues of the crew, who were waiting anxiously for information about their loved ones at the National Iranian Tanker Company headquarters.
Labour Minister Ali Rabiei was shown crying on state television as he tried to comfort the wife of one crewman, telling her: “Hold your child close and be strong.”
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