A firefighter ship sprays water 16 November, 2004, over the smoldering Chilean tanker Vicula, which exploded yesterday in the port of Paranagua, 250 Km from Curitiba, southern Brazil. Six sailors were missing following an explosion onboard a fuel tanker, port superintendant Eduardo Requier said late Monday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

 

A video grab shows a fuel tanker explosion causes fire at the southern Brazilian port of Paranagua, Nov. 15, 2004. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    BRASILIA, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- A fuel tanker explosion at the southern Brazilian port of Paranagua causes six crew members on board missing, port official said late Monday.

    The official denied earlier reports that the blast had killed 31 crew members, saying two sailors were rescued and the remaining 28 aboard are safe.

    Three consecutive explosions were heard around 7:30 p.m. (2230 GMT), ripping the vessel into two, according to a local radio. The tanker with Chilean flag was being loaded with fuel at the time. Access to the port was blocked by troops.

    No details are available. The cause of the blast is under investigation. Enditem

Chilean tanker to sink off Brazilian port

    

(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Chilean tanker Vicula was about to sink Tuesday after one of its two tanks exploded Monday night off the port of Paranagua Bay in Brazil.

    Authorities said that the vessel accidentally crashed into the dock while loading a cargo of ethanol, and sparks triggered by crashing ignited the highly flammable fuel.

    The fire caused explosion of one tank, and subsequently the ship was ruptured into two parts, one of which sank later.

    Four crew members (two Chileans and two Britons) on board were missing and 24 others safe, reports said.

    One charred body was found when environmental personnel and local firemen rushed to the scene to prevent the spread of the fuel by surrounding the ship with buoys.

    At the moment of the explosion, the vessel contained five million liters ethanol. It is estimated that at least 1 million liters spilled in the Paranagua Bay.

    The firm Cataline, operating the fuel terminal, was responsible for the accident, said Eduardo Requiao, superintendent of the port.

    The harbor resumed operation Tuesday morning. Enditem