Spanish cargo ship splits on French coast at Anglet Published duration 5 February 2014

image copyright AP image caption Crew members were winched to safety one by one

France has raised a pollution alert after an empty Spanish cargo ship split in half on a breakwater near Bayonne on the Atlantic coast.

Drifting after its engine failed, the Luno crashed into the breakwater at Anglet, snapping neatly in two, with one half either side of the rocks.

All 12 crew members were winched to safety by helicopter, one at a time. One person suffered a nose injury.

As the wreck leaked fuel oil, a maritime pollution alert was declared.

image copyright AFP image caption The ship hit the breakwater after engine failure

image copyright AFP image caption It ended up in two pieces, one either side of the breakwater

image copyright AFP image caption The larger part remained stuck on the rocks

image copyright AFP image caption The rest of the ship came to rest just off the beach

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