Tunisia’s neighbours offer help to contain damage after fuel ship sank

Divers find no leaks and government says outlook is positive' as navies try to limit environmental harm from sinking of vessel carrying 750-1,000 tonnes

Some neighbouring countries have offered to help Tunisia prevent damage to the environment after a merchant ship carrying up to 1,000 tonnes of fuel sank off the country's coast, the Tunisian defence ministry has said.

The ship, which was travelling from Equatorial Guinea to Malta, requested entry to Tunisian waters on Friday evening due to bad weather. It sank near Gabes, and the Tunisian navy rescued all seven crew members. After being checked in hospital, all seven were taken to a hotel.