Tanker explodes off China

Reports from Beijing say that one oil tanker exploded and another was heavily damaged in a fire in southern China.

Details are sketchy but reports say that the blaze occurred near an oil depot in Qingliu, a village in the southern province of Guangdong, near Hong Kong.

Local reports say that more than 50 fire engines, five firefighting boats and two helicopters assisted in tackling the blaze.

Three people were reported injured.

The tanker which exploded was carrying more than 100 tons of oil.

It ignited more than 400 tons of diesel oil.

There is no indication how much sea water was polluted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service