Tonnes of diesel spill into the Nile

CAIRO - At least 100 tonnes of diesel fuel spilled into the Nile river after a barge partially sank in southern Egypt, media and state sources reported Sunday.

The barge was carrying 244 tonnes of diesel fuel when it sank Saturday while attempting to dock near Aswan, some 980 km south of the capital Cairo.

At least 100 tonnes of diesel spilled into the Nile, the al-Masry al-Youm daily reported, though other sources said up to double that amount could have leaked into the waters.

The government has shut down all water distillation plants in the area.

Sources say the spill has covered at least one square kilometre of the river’s surface.

Civil defence and emergency forces were working to clean the spill and at least one person, the captain of the vessel, was arrested.