Ship’s sinking raises concern

Lost cause: A rescue ship sailing near the burning ‘Sanchi’ before the oil tanker sank in the East China Sea. — AP

BEIJING: The sinking of an Iranian tanker off China could severely damage marine life, environmental experts warned, as state media reported an oil spill covering up to 50 sq m at the scene.

The Sanchi, carrying 136,000 tonnes of light crude oil from Iran, went under on Sunday after a new and massive fire erupted, sending a cloud of black smoke as high as one kilometre above the East China Sea.