A tank that washed up on Silistar beach last night looks empty, and there are no signs of hazardous substances leaking around it, Burgas regional governor Diko Dikov said. It was spotted in the sea off Varvara yesterday, and at about 11pm the waves threw it onto the shore.
Dikov checked the container on the rocks between the Arapya and Oasis campsites yesterday, while border police spotted the tank at sea.
Background: Empty tank floats 2km off the coast of Achtopol
He said there is no risk of pollution or of any substance spreading. Border Police are guarding the tank around the clock.
Experts took sea water samples on Monday. The results will be ready in five days and will show whether the sea is affected. Pollution from the two large metal containers near Tsarevo has not been confirmed so far.
The first container is wedged between the rocks at Dinyov Gyol near Arapya. Overnight, firefighters tied it down with extra ropes so the swell would not pull it back into the sea. Rough seas are making the work harder.
Today the army, Border Police and the fire service are discussing how to free the container from the rocks and take it to the nearest port. Pre-trial proceedings have already begun, and the Military Prosecutor's Office will lead the removal.
The papers say the container holds Christmas decorations, but nobody has checked what is really inside, as it has not been opened. Dikov said there is nothing worrying for now.
The container ship CONTSHIP JET sank off Shabla on 28 October after an attack by naval drones. The two containers probably came from its cargo. The ship also carried goods that need special safety measures, so officials are watching the coast and testing the water.
By the morning of 3 November, no other containers had been seen near the shore. Border Police are watching the coast with special equipment, and Dikov thinks the other floating objects may be farther out at sea.