Officials at the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, citing Coast Guard reports, initially said about 110,000 barrels had leaked from the Hong Kong-registered tanker. But the Coast Guard later said additional information indicated the amount was significantly lower — about 66,043 barrels.
The accident occurred around 7:30 a.m. when the crane-carrying vessel slammed into the 146,000-ton tanker Hebei Spirit in waters 5 miles off Mallipo beach, some 93 miles southwest of Seoul.
The extent of the spill's potential damage to communities or wildlife in the area was not immediately clear, a ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity citing office policy.
Jung Se-hi, a Coast Guard officer, said it dispatched 34 coast guard, navy and other government vessels as well as four helicopters to stop the spread of the spill and collect the oil.
He said an emergency floating fence was also set up around the scene but added it would take at least several days to complete the......
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