Sunk merchant ship leaks fuel oil off Spain's Ibiza

MADRID, July 11 (Reuters) A merchant ship sank off the coast of the Spanish Mediterranean resort island Ibiza early today and fuel oil is leaking into the sea, the government said.

Marine rescue teams saved the 20 crew members after the ''Don Pedro'' crashed into a small island off Ibiza port and sank.

The vessel, used to ship new cars, had no cargo on board at the time, a spokeswoman for the marine rescue service said.

The ship sank in water up to 45 metres deep and the 150 tonnes of fuel oil in its tanks has begun leaking into the sea, the newspaper El Pais quoted Ibiza's chief maritime officer as saying.

The government said environmental services were working to control the spill.

The marine rescue spokeswoman could not say whether the leak threatened beaches on the popular Mediterranean resort island.

REUTERS KK MIR KP1616