Storm hits Sicily, tanker aground

An Italian tanker ran aground in high winds and seas off Sicily this morning, the coastguard said, adding that the 19 crew were taken off by helicopter amid worsening weather.

The 150-metre (500-foot) Gelso M was driven on to rocks near Syracuse and began taking in water, and the captain ordered it to be abandoned, the coastguard said in a statement.

Coastguard spokesman Cosimo Nicastro said four helicopters had airlifted the crew to safety and all were in good health.

The ship, a tanker, was carrying no cargo at the time of the incident, and its double hull meant there was a low risk of pollution but the environment ministry was alerted nonetheless.

The position of the ship made it impossible for surface craft to approach and the coastguard called for more aerial assistance from the navy and the air force.

Rescue service sources suggested that given the conditions the captain had been sailing too close to the coast.

Coastguard commander Filippo Marini said a tug had been dispatched to see if it was possible to pull the Gelso M off the reefs and tow it to a port.