A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) is adrift in the Mediterranean Sea without a crew and with serious hull damage, prompting warnings of a 'serious risk of a major environmental disaster'.

The tanker is loaded with LNG, and the lack of a crew and the hole in the hull increase the risk of a fuel spill or even an explosion.

Experts warn that such an event could have catastrophic consequences for the environment, including pollution of the sea and destruction of marine life.