Never underestimate the power of the ocean.
Since late last year we’ve seen the devastating effects that extreme weather conditions and rough seas can have and have had on towns like Lahinch and Tramore and Ireland is far from the only place that is being affected.
Footage has emerged of a Spanish cargo ship that was slammed into a dyke amidst rough conditions at sea near the town of Anglet in the south of France, not far from the port of Bayonne, where Brian O’Driscoll’s eye was infamously split open in a ‘friendly’ prior to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
According to AFP, the cargo ship was carrying 11 sailors and had suffered a complete electrical breakdown before slamming into a dyke which caused it to split in two while being battered by high and powerful waves.
All 11 sailors were evacuated by helicopter in a rescue mission carried out in winds of over 100 kilometres per hour and if you look closely enough you can see the last of the sailors being evacuated just before the ship finally cracks.
A fuel leak had been detected and an emergency plan known as Polmar had been activated to deal with maritime pollution, but French Transport Minister Frederic Cuvillier, told reporters that there was probably no risk “of massive pollution” arising from the incident.
Yikes.
Hat-tip to Derek Balfe and Phil Clarke for sending this one our way
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