A major fire broke out on the 73-metre oil tanker Annika in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Germany. Local media reported that the fire was preceded by an explosion, after which the vessel, which was carrying 640 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, was engulfed in flames. According to preliminary data, there were seven crew members on board, all of whom were evacuated by rescue services.

Rescue cruisers and helicopters have now been dispatched to the scene to extinguish the fire. Despite the efforts of the rescuers, the fire continues to rage and the situation remains tense. Due to the scale of the fire and the nature of the cargo carried by the vessel, there is a risk of environmental consequences for the region. The fuel oil that was on board the tanker is an extremely hazardous substance, the leakage of which could cause serious harm to the marine ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.

German authorities have not yet disclosed details about the possible causes of the explosion, but an investigation into the incident has already begun. One version of the incident could be a technical malfunction on board the vessel, but other scenarios are not ruled out. Rescue operations are ongoing at the site and fire services are making every effort to localize the fire.