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Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

Thursday 06 February 2014 12:54 GMT

A Spanish cargo ship broke in two after hitting a sea wall off the southwestern coast of France in high winds and was leaking some fuel into the water

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

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1/10In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

A Spanish cargo ship broke in two after hitting a sea wall off the southwestern coast of France in high winds and was leaking some fuel into the water

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

A view of Spanish cargo ship Luno in Anglet, near Bayonne

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Initial fears that the ship was loaded with fertilisers were unfounded, government confirmed

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Officials said a fuel leak had been detected and an emergency plan known as Polmar had been activated to deal with maritime pollution

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Waves are seen breaking against an empty Spanish cargo ship which broke in two on a seawall off the beach in Anglet on the Atlantic Coast of France

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

An aerial view show waves which break against a Spanish cargo ship

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Two firefighters stand close to Spanish cargo ship Luno in Anglet, near Bayonne

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

An helicopter flies over a Spanish cargo ship 'Luno' which slammed into a dyke and split in two, injuring at least one sailor and raising concerns of a fuel leak, in Anglet, near the French port of Bayonne

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Two helicopters lifted a dozen crew members to safety but the rescue operation was being hampered by winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour (70 miles per hour)

In pictures: Spanish cargo ship hits the breakwater and splits in half

France

Crew members are evacuated by French rescue teams after a Spanish freighter Luno hit the breakwater and split in half in Anglet

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