The operational work shift of the Crisis Management Center of the Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for the Sakhalin Region received a message about the emergency on the morning of February 25.
“In the northern port of Korsakov, a methane leak was detected on the container ship Fesco Tatarstan from the explosion valve of a specialized tank for transporting liquefied gases with a volume of 20 tons. The tank is located on the upper deck of the ship and it is surrounded by empty containers. It is impossible to unload the tank and containers from the ship for safety reasons. The crew of 17 people was evacuated from the ship,” the head office’s press service said in a statement.
According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the northeasterly wind carries gas into Aniva Bay. The nearest residential buildings are about a kilometer away.
A police cordon was installed in the place, firefighters and an ambulance were on alert. Experts are expected to arrive to inspect the tank and eliminate the leak. The situation is under the control of the Main Directorate of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry for the region.
