Another Oily Shroud

A tanker runs aground at La Coruna, causing a huge spill of crude

THE TANKER AEGEAN SEA NEVER MADE PORT. Loaded with nearly 24 million gal. of North Sea crude, struggling in heavy seas, the Greek-registered vessel foundered on rocks near the entrance to the Spanish port of La Coruna and began leaking from at least two of its nine tanks. As a series of explosions tore through the ship, sinking its bow and adding to the sludgy deluge, rescuers evacuated all of the 29-member crew by helicopter. The accident occurred at almost the exact spot along the northwest shore, nicknamed the "Coast of Death" for its toll on sea traffic over the years,...

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