France tries to contain fuel spill in Atlantic

After a Grande America tanker sank off the Atlantic Coast and caught fire, efforts are on by French authorities to contain fuel spill. The ship sank about 330 kilometres west of the French coast city of La Rochelle. All 27 people aboard the tanker were rescued by French and British rescue teams.

Paris: French authorities are working to contain a fuel spill off the Atlantic Coast after an Italian tanker sank following a fire.

French and British rescue teams saved all 27 people aboard the Grande America tanker after it sank on Tuesday, according to a French government statement.

The ship sank about 330 kilometres (200 miles) west of the French coast city of La Rochelle.

Video released on Thursday by the French navy showed flames and plumes of black smoke spewing from the ship as it listed sharply on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The regional maritime authority said the ship has since leaked fuel over an area of about 10 kilometres (six miles) long and one kilometre wide.

A specialist French clean-up ship was expected in the area on Thursday.

France has also reached out to the European Maritime Security Agency to provide specialist equipment.