Tanker Sinks, Spills Oil in Thailand

Thai authorities are working to clean up an oil spill from a small tanker that sunk just southwest of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand on Tuesday.

Local media say the vessel sank about 3 kilometers from shore when the engine room flooded. The crew of five were rescued.

The tanker was carrying 30,000 to 60,000 liters of oil sludge. The cleanup effort has so far resulted in the collection of 75 percent of the 1,500 liters of oil that has leaked, but oil is already affecting coastal fishing and mangrove forests.