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

Injured crew members arrive in hospital after the blast. SCREENSHOTS: SCMP/HANDOUTS

HONG KONG (AFP) - At least one person was killed and six wounded after an oil tanker exploded east of Hong Kong on Saturday (April 16), officials said.

The Hong Kong Government Flying Services said it was notified at around 4.05pm that an oil tanker exploded in the waters 300km to the east of Hong Kong.

The cause of the explosion was unclear as of Saturday night, a government spokesman said.

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 9,995-tonne Chuang Yi.

Three Indonesian men in their thirties were seriously injured, including one with second-degree burns covering 30 per cent 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 spokesman told AFP.

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