Major oil spill fears in Indian Ocean

A Japanese tanker may have spilled more than 4,500 tons (31,500 barrels) of crude oil in the eastern Indian Ocean near the Nicobar islands following a collision with a cargo ship, the tanker’s operator announced today.

Japan’s Kyodo news service said the spill – which would be about 4.9 million litres (1.3 million gallons) – may have been the largest ever involving a Japanese tanker.