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Ship sinks after hitting oil tanker near Chongqing

A small cargo ship collided with a new 5,500-ton-dwt oil tanker and sank in the Yangtze River near Chongqing in southwest China yesterday, but no one was hurt in the accident, Chongqing Evening News reported.

Witnesses said the cargo ship suddenly lost power and control as about 5:40pm and began to drift downstream. Its crew called for help through a loud speaker and sounded the alarm whistle.

A rescue team soon arrived and tried to attach the ship in distress to a big tugboat. "But before they were able to carry out the plan, the cargo ship had already hit the oil tanker anchored near the bank," one witness surnamed Tang told the newspaper.

The cargo ship sank quickly. Four of its seven crew members deserted the ship before it rammed into the oil tanker, the other three jumped into the river and were all saved.

Investigation showed the cargo ship was loaded with stones when it went down. The cause of the accident and economic damages were still under investigation.



 

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