As a result of bad weather that affected the strait that unites the Azov and Black Seas, two tankers, the Volgoneft 212 and the Volgoneft 239, with 15 and 14 sailors on board respectively capsized, the emergency agency said in a statement.

The damage caused a fuel spill, the federal agency for maritime and river transport, Rosmorrechflot, reported.

Crimean authorities previously reported strong winds and rough seas, grade 7 on the Beaufort scale, in the Kerch Strait.

According to the MarineTraffic website, the Volgoneft 212 is 136 meters long and 16 meters wide, while the Volgoneft-239 is 132 meters long and 17 meters wide. Both tankers sail under the Russian flag.

The Russian Ministry of Emergencies posted on the social network Telegram that “13 sailors were evacuated from the Volgoneft 212 tanker, one of whom unfortunately died.”

According to the agency, that tanker ran aground after being damaged, while the other tanker, Volgoneft 239, was adrift.

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