Fire breaks out as oil tanker, cargo ship collide in North Sea

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - An oil tanker and a cargo ship have been involved in a collision off the coast of Lincolnshire, resulting in both vessels catching fire, according to British media on Monday.

The incident, which took place in the North Sea, was reported by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), who responded with four lifeboat crews to the scene.

Reports suggest that several crew members abandoned the ships after the collision.

HM Coastguard has taken the lead in coordinating the rescue operation, which is taking place about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off the coast of East Yorkshire.

A coastguard helicopter was dispatched from Humberside to assist with the rescue efforts.

Lifeboats from Skegness, Bridlington, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes have been deployed to the scene, with additional support from an HM Coastguard fixed-wing aircraft and nearby vessels equipped for firefighting.

The cause of the collision remains unclear, and emergency services are continuing to work to secure the safety of those involved.

Efforts are also focused on extinguishing the fires onboard the two vessels.