A Russian tanker carrying more than 4,000 tonnes of oil products has sunk in the Black Sea amid stormy conditions, while a second vessel has run aground, raising fears of an ecological disaster.

The cargo ship, Volgoneft-212, snapped in half on Sunday after being struck by a massive wave. Video footage captured its bow sticking vertically out of the water. The incident occurred off the eastern coast of occupied Crimea, about five miles, or eight kilometers, from the Kerch Strait, according to Russian media reports.

Russian investigators have launched two criminal cases to probe potential safety violations. Tragically, at least one person has died following the sinking of the 136-meter-long tanker, which had 15 people on board at the time of the disaster.

The tanker was transporting 4,300 tonnes of low-grade heavy fuel oil, commonly known as mazut. Russia’s emergency services responded swiftly, deploying tugboats and a Mil Mi-8 helicopter for a rescue operation.

So far, 12 people have been evacuated, with 11 of them hospitalized. Among the injured, two are reported to be in serious condition, according to Alexei Kuznetsov, an aide to Russia’s health minister, as quoted by the Tass news agency.

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