No casualties in port explosion of oil tanker

Zhuhai (CNS) -- A Cantonese oil tanker exploded in Xiangzhou Port, Zhuhai, at 2:30 p.m., Monday. The raging fire that followed was put out before causing any casualties.

Oil leaked from the vessel after the explosion and spread fire over the water's surface enshrouding half of the port in dark smoke. A fishery administration ship on duty in the harbor immediately ordered urgent evacuation of the hundreds of surrounding vessels, in case a second explosion occurred.

The fire took two hours to get under control. All three members of the tanker crew were rescued, one of whom sustained minor injuries.

By 8 p.m., all the leaked oil had burned off, leaving neither serious pollution in the water nor damage to other vessels, according to the Zhuhai city fisheries authority.