A Greek island is suffering from an “ecological disaster” after a tanker carrying more than 2,000 tons of crude oil sunk off the coast.

Drone footage captured the scale of pollution on the island of Salamis after a 45-year-old Agia Zoni II took on water near Athens over the weekend.

It subsequently sank, leaving a spill of oil spreading across almost a mile. It is thought thousands of marine animals, both over and underwater could be affected.

The images taken by Up Drones show Selinia bay turning black. Large amounts of oil can also be seen washed ashore.

The Salamis Municipality said the oil had reached the beaches of Kinosoura and Selinia.

In a statement the local government said: “The damage is great. The municipality will take legal action for damages and full liability of the ecological disaster. Companies with experience in such incidents have assured us that they will restore the coast and the sea to the former situation."

The thick oil spreads throughout the bay and washes up on the shore (Up Drones)

A resident of Selinia, told the Keep Talking Greece blog that the oil's smell had woken them up.

“We went to the beach and saw several ships, we heard a tanker had sunk," they said. “Later we found a dead bird. We were proud of Selinia, now it will take several years until it is clear again.”

Residents reported seeing dead marine animals in the bay (Up Drones)

The mayor of Salamis, Isidora Nannou-Papathanasiou, has called on the Greek ministries of Marine and Environment to accelerate efforts and send more resources to work against the pollution.