Two tankers collide on Lena, gasoline leaking into river - Russian emergencies services

Two tankers collided on the Lena River in the southeastern Russian Irkutsk region, damaging a reservoir holding nearly 140 tons of gasoline, a spokesman for the local emergencies services told TASS on June 12.

"The TP-901 tanker rammed the TP-900 tanker carrying 832 tons of gasoline on the Lena Rivers near the village of Alexeyevsk," he said, adding that a reservoir holding 138 tons of gasoline was damaged.

"The fuel is leaking into the river," he said, adding that no one was hurt.

A probe has been launched.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that a state of emergency was introduced around the area where two fuel tankers collided.

The damaged container was carrying 138 metric tons of gasoline, the governor, Igor Kobzev, said on the Telegram messaging app, adding that authorities were trying to clarify how much ended up in the Lena.

The situation was complicated as other vessels were still travelling on the river, Kobzev said. "In addition, there are settlements downstream."

He said that emergency services were working to prevent the diversion of water from the river.

The Lena River, the world's 11th longest, originates near Lake Baikal in the Irkutsk region in southeastern Siberia and flows into the Arctic Ocean.