(ANSA) - The coast in upper Tuscany faces an environmental emergency after a ship hit a barrier outside port here and sank with 85,000 liters of fuel in its tanks.
The incident took place during the week in high winds and seas but rescue workers were able to save the 13-man crew.
The vessel was an 84-meter Georgian-registered ro-ro dry cargo ship transporting cement from Genoa to Varna, Bulgaria.
The port authority has confirmed that its fuel tanks were slashed in the impact and that the diesel fuel was leaking out.
Special ships equipped to deal with the situation and contain the spill have bee dispatched but their work is being hindered by the adverse weather and sea conditions.
