ROME—The Italian coast guard said two of its helicopters are rescuing crew members stranded on a tanker ship that ran aground in stormy seas off Sicily.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Cosimo Nicastro said that so far seven of the 19 crew members have been evacuated from the Italian-flagged vessel, the Gelso M.
The ship ran aground Saturday on reefs near the port town of Syracuse, on Sicily’s southeast coast.
Other helicopters, from the Italian Navy and Air Force, were joining the rescue efforts. Nicastro said the all-Italian crew aboard were safe.
He told Sky TG24 that helicopters were needed for the evacuation because the ship’s position on the reefs made it impossible for the crew to lower lifeboats or for rescue vessels to approach. No cargo was reported aboard the tanker ship.