Large oil leak spotted off Taranto

A large oil leak has been spotted in the sea off the southern Italian port city of Taranto, probably released from a vessel flying a Turkish flag. The diameter of the leak is some dozen meters, local sources said. The local port authorities together with a specialized company called Ecotaras have started cleaning up the spill. It's not yet clear if the leak results from the ship having been damaged or if it is related to human error. A similar incident took place in the area on April 11. Local authorities are carrying out an examination of the oil in order to determine its provenance. The Turkish vessel was loading material from the ILVA steel factory when the leak took place. The leak has now been circumscribed with special materials.