- This news is breaking: more to follow
An explosion on a 240ft oil tanker off the coast of Germany today sparked a huge inferno and forced the evacuation of all crew on board.
The Annika tanker was carrying about 640 tonnes of oil when it erupted into flames shortly this morning, near the seaside resort of Kuehlungsborn.
A rescue boat picked up all seven crew members on board and brought them to shore about an hour after rescue teams were alerted.
Several were reported to have been injured, according to German media, with the fire department on standby to help those returning.
Emergency service vessels ‘have begun fighting the fire’ and more rescue crew were headed to the area on helicopters.
Fire crews are still battling to tackle the fire aboard the huge oil tanker off the German coast
The huge vessel is understood to be a ‘bunker’ ship, used to supply others with fuel
The ship was anchored and also attached to a tugboat, according to the central command.
Three ships were at the scene fighting the fire, and several more firefighting teams were en route to the tanker by helicopter.
The rescue service said black smoke was visible from the coast.
Photos from the scene showed the boat was visibly charred black from fire damage.
The Cuxhaven Emergency Command is leading the rescue operation, and confirmed some 640 tonnes of oil were on board at the time of the explosion, shortly after 9am.
This meant the Annika was now ‘as good as empty’.
The huge vessel is understood to be a ‘bunker’ ship, used to supply others with fuel.
Disruption is now expected, with the Annika reported to have been on course to refuel ferries in Lübeck later today.
Rostock, a city on the north coast of Germany, is now reportedly preparing to take the damaged vessel in.
The German-flagged tanker is 73 metres (240 foot) long and 12 metres wide.