New Oil Disaster

The 44,000-tonne Prestige tanker with 77,000 tonnes of fuel oil loaded in Latvia is in danger of sinking 48km off the coast.

Most of the 27 crew aboard an oil tanker that is listing and taking on water in rough seas off Spain's northwest coast were evacuated.

Oil has already leaked into the water near the stricken vessel.

The Prestige was built in Japan in 1976, and last underwent inspection in 1999.

The vessel is Bahamas-flagged.