And worst still, the inclement weather at the place has made things more dreadful as rescue ships are unable to search for the missing crew or clean the carcass of birds and animals killed in the catastrophe.

The catastrophe occurred when three Russian ships carrying sulphur sank near the port on Sunday last and some rescue workers siphon off fuel oil from a damaged tanker with two fractures in the hull. Soon high waves virtually split apart another oil tanker leading to 2,000 tons of fuel oil spill near the Kerch Strait that connects Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

Although helicopters and rescue ships have launched a massive search operation in the area and hundreds of Russian soldiers organized at the venue to clean the mess up, nothing is being possible owing to the inclement weather and threats of fresh storms coming up.

Metrological department officials have already cautioned of another ecological calamity as rough winds and downpours are relentless on Russia's southern coastline along with Ukraine. Another storm with a velocity of 144 kilometers an hour is apprehended any time. Officials said that this incident as well as the pollution in the Northern Black Sea has made navigation for ships a risky proposition.

According to estimates three sailors of the ill-fated tanker were killed, while search is on for another 20 crew members. The bodies of the three sailors were washed ashore at Tuzla island near the Kerch Strait.

Another 60 sailors were rescued by different teams operating in the region. In addition, over 30,000 birds along with innumerable fishes and other aquatic animals are reported to have died in the catastrophe. Even many other vessels in the region have been severely damaged due to the storm and heavy rains lashing the area for nearly two days now.

The catastrophe is said to be a fall-out of the captains of the ill-fated ships and tankers ignoring the storm warnings.