Greek oil spill forces closure of Athens beaches

Leak described as ecological disaster with authorities accused of failing to recognise scale of threat from sunken tanker

An emergency operation is under way to clean up an oil spill from a sunken tanker that has blackened popular beaches and bays in Athens' Argo-Saronic gulf.

What had been thought a containable spill is being described by officials as an ecological disaster after thick tar and oil pollution drifted toward residential coastal areas.