TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – An oil tanker transporting petrochemical products to Hong Kong exploded around mid-day Tuesday, Jan. 8, killing at least one crew member with three more still missing.
An emergency response operation is currently underway by Hong Kong authorities to put out the fire, salvage the ship, and ensure that any chemical leaks are under control and properly contained.
Of the 26 crewmen aboard the Vietnam-flagged 11,000 ton oil tanker Aulac Fortune, 25 were Vietnamese, and 22 have been rescued, according to reports. One reportedly died instantly in the explosion, while three more remain unaccounted for, reports UDN.
SCMP reports that four of those rescued have been taken to Ruttonjee Hospital in Wan Chai for treatment, including a 46-year-old Singaporean man.
The explosion occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Lamma Island (南丫島) just south of Hong Kong. The ship was reportedly coming from Dongguan port where it had unloaded most of its fuel Jan. 6-7. It was preparing to make a final delivery to Hong Kong before returning to Vietnam, reports CNN.
Residents on nearby Lantau Island (大嶼山) over 10 km away reported hearing and feeling the blast, with some windows reportedly shaking as if there were a typhoon or earthquake.
There was initially one large blast, followed by two smaller ones. Some reports have suggested that there was had been a fire on board before the first explosion.
The Straits Times reports that the ship last loaded 6,000 liters of petrol while docked in Singapore last week.