A massive fireball was seen after a cargo vessel collided with an oil tanker off the east coast of England, leaving one person hospitalized and 36 others safe and accounted for. The incident occurred when the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong collided with the US-flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate, which was carrying jet fuel for the US government.

According to the UK Coastguard, the incident happened at around 09:48 GMT, and a rescue operation was launched immediately. “The incident remains ongoing, and an assessment of the likely counter-pollution response required is being enacted,” a UK Coastguard spokesperson said.

The Stena Immaculate’s owner, Crowley, confirmed that the vessel was carrying jet fuel when it was hit by the Solong, resulting in a fire and fuel spill. “A fire occurred as a result of the allision, and fuel was reported released. The Stena Immaculate crew abandoned the vessel following multiple explosions onboard. All Crowley mariners are safe and fully accounted for,” the company said in a statement.

Local MP Graham Stuart expressed concern about the potential ecological impact of the incident. “I’m calling for a unified command structure, to bring together government, police, Coast Guard, the Environment Agency, local authorities, and MPs,” he said.

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby to gather evidence and determine the next steps. “Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps,” a spokesperson said.

The incident has raised concerns about the potential environmental impact, with the RSPB expressing concern about the potential damage to habitats and wildlife. “Naturally, we are extremely concerned about the potential for a leak from the tanker as oil pollution can seriously damage habitats and be lethal to seabirds,” said Dave O’Hara, senior site manager at the RSPB Bempton Cliffs.