Sanchi Oil Tanker Rescue: Fourteen vessels join rescue operation

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Fourteen vessels from China, South Korea and Japan are taking part in a search and rescue operation for the 31 crew members still missing from Saturday's oil-tanker collision in the East China Sea. CGTN's Han Peng has the latest from the rescue center.

Flames in the middle of the sea. Nearly a week after the collision, rescuers are still struggling to bring the fire under control with the operation now running into difficulties sourcing materials to extinguish the fire.

XIE CHUNWEI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI MARITIME BUREAU "Because of the scale of the fire, now we have used up almost all of our foam from Shanghai. We are requesting nearby Jiangsu Province for more."

Strong winds and high waves, the Panama-registered oil tanker is drifting further from the shore all the time.

XIE CHUNWEI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI MARITIME BUREAU "We've been following the drifting oil tanker all the way, and the distance is making the transport of foam more challenging."

But the fire burns on, with large amounts of leaking condensate oil now threatening a major explosion.

HAN PENG SHANGHAI "Here is the live footage we are receiving at the rescue center. Officials say rescuers are literally risking their lives."

XIE CHUNWEI DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SHANGHAI MARITIME BUREAU "Unlike crude oil, the burning of condensate oil creates a toxic gas. The rescuers understand the health risks. But we are not giving up."

Huge health risks, but according to experts condensate is said to be less of a pollutant that regular crude.The sole body found has been confirmed as a crew member of the oil tanker. The rescuers say they will maintain their efforts until all hope of finding the remaining crew members has been extinguished. Han Peng, CGTN, Shanghai.