Oil tanker bursts into flames after colliding with cargo ship leaving at least 32 casualties

A US oil tanker reportedly burst into flames after colliding with a ship off the coast of England this morning, leaving at least 32 casualties.

A major maritime rescue mission is currently underway in the North Sea just off the East Yorkshire coast in the UK after two vessels, including one reportedly carrying jet fuel, collided earlier this morning.

HM Coastguard told the BBC that the incident occurred near the Humber Estuary, with the alarm raised around 9.48am today (Monday, March 10).

Oil tanker bursts into flames after colliding with cargo ship leaving at least 32 casualties (@‌Tessaronnews/Twitter)

It is believed the crash involves the US-flagged Stena Immaculate, that was anchored off the Humber Estuary after having travelled from Greece, and the Portuguese-flagged container ship, MV Solong, that had been travelling from Scotland to Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the news outlet reports.

It is believed the oil tanker carrying the highly flammable substance was stationary when the Solong collided with it.

The Stena Immaculate (VesselFinder)

Martyn Boyers, chief executive of the Port of Grimsby East, confirmed 13 casualties were initially brought to shore, followed by another 10 on a harbour pilot boat and a further nine in another rescue.

Both vessels are reportedly still burning in the blaze while several crew members remain unaccounted for after fleeing into the waters to avoid its 'massive fire ball.'

Crew have apparently abandoned the ship after there was a 'massive fireball' (Twitter/@TheSecretFF999)

The RNLI said there had been reports of people abandoning the vessels to get away from the flames, and audio footage of the emergency calls further reveals crew had make the decisions to abandon the ships.

In the call, the distressed caller says: “Solong collided with tanker Stena Immaculate. Both vessels are abandoning," as per The Sun.

“Vessels who have firefighting equipment or who can assist with search and rescue, contact Humber Coastguard on [radio] channel 16.

“Vessel Stena Immaculate is carrying Jet A1 fuel, which is on fire and in the water. Request vessels remain at a safe distance.”

It is believed the container ship crashed into the oil tanker (VesselFinder)

Boyers added: "It's too far out for us to see - about 10 miles - but we have seen the vessels bringing them in.

"They must have sent a mayday out - luckily there was a crew transfer vessel out there already.

"Since then there has been a flotilla of ambulances to pick up anyone they can find."

The condition of the casualties currently remain unclear.

A spokesperson for the Marine Accident Investigation Branch also told the BBC: "The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has deployed a team to Grimsby following the collision of the Portuguese registered container ship Solong and the US registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate which collided in the North Sea this morning.

"Our team of inspectors and support staff are gathering evidence and undertaking a preliminary assessment of the accident to determine our next steps."