Tanker and cargo ship collide off UK coast causing ‘massive fireball’, 32 casualties

The UK coastguard said on Monday it responded to reports that an oil tanker and a cargo vessel had collided in the North Sea.

UK media reported that both the oil tanker and cargo vessel were on fire off the northeastern coast of England.

“HM coastguard is currently coordinating the emergency response to reports of a collision between a tanker and cargo vessel off the coast of East Yorkshire,” a coastguard spokesperson said.

The alarm about the collision was alerted at 9.48am local time.

Images on the BBC showed a huge plume of black smoke and flames rising from the scene.

A coastguard helicopter, aircraft, lifeboats from four towns and other nearby vessels were part of the large rescue operation, the coastguard added.