Russian Ministry of Emergencies chief Alexander Kurenkov declared on Thursday a federal state of emergency after oil spilled into the sea in the Kerch Strait from two tankers previously damaged by a heavy storm, the ministry's press service told RIA Novosti. The decision was made during a meeting of the government commission.
RIA reported earlier, citing a source, that some 3,700 tons of low-grade fuel oil had spilled into the Kerch Strait, according to preliminary estimates. Russian President Vladimir Putin called the event an "environmental disaster," insisting that the authorities must do everything "to remove the fuel that appears on the coast."
