1 dead, 6 injured in oil tanker explosion east of Hong Kong

An oil tanker exploded east of Hong Kong on Saturday, killing at least one person and injuring six others, according to officials.

An oil tanker exploded 300 kilometers east of Hong Kong, according to the Hong Kong Government Flying Services, which was reported at 4:05 p.m. (0805 GMT).

According to a government official, the cause of the explosion was still unknown as of Saturday night.

The oil tanker’s fire had been put out by the time rescuers arrived, according to a government official, who added that the ship had lost movement.

Authorities dispatched a fixed-wing aircraft and two helicopters to rescue seven crew members reported to be injured.

One man had already died by the time rescuers arrived at the Panama-registered ship, the 5,547-tonne “Chuang Yi”.

Three Indonesian men in their thirties were seriously injured, including one with second-degree burns covering 30 percent of his body and others with burns on their faces.

Two other Indonesian men and a Burmese man, all aged between 30 and 40, had less serious injuries such as lacerations and burns.

Authorities were unable to confirm if there were oil spills because of poor visibility after nightfall, the spokesperson told AFP.