Tunisian authorities are working to prevent damage to the environment after a ship transporting 1,000 tons of fuel from Equatorial Guinea to Malta sank off the coast of Gabes. Bad weather has been cited as the cause of the incident, according to the Tunisian Environment Ministry. The ship was flooded with water.
The ministry announced on Saturday, a day after the ship sank, that it would set up barriers to limit the spread of fuel, and then begin suctioning the spillage.
“We think the hull is still watertight and there is no leakage for the moment,” Environment Minister Leila Chikhaoui said, Al Jazeera reported. “We think that the means we already have at our disposal will allow us to limit the accident.”
The Tunisian navy received a distress call from the ship and rescued its seven crew members.