At least one person is killed after the two tankers sustained heavy damage in the Kerch Strait, spilling oil and sparking an emergency rescue operation.

Another tanker was also in distress after sustaining damage, Russian officials said. At least one person was killed.

Two oil tankers carrying nearly 9,000 metric tons of mazut fuel were damaged by a storm, broke in half, sunk and caused oil spills in Kerch Strait, which separates Crimea and Russia.