Barges Collide In Houston Ship Channel, Spill Fuel Into Waterway

Barges Collide In Houston Ship Channel, Spill Fuel Into Waterway

Two barges collided early Monday morning off the coast of Galveston, Texas, sparking a fire on one vessel and spilling fuel into the waterway.

According to KTRK, the local ABC affiliate, both barges were being hauled by tug boats through the Houston Ship Channel around 1:20 a.m. when one of the tugs lost power. The barge it was towing then struck the other barge.

Although one of the barges caught fire after the collision, the flames were extinguished overnight, Click2Houston.com reported.

No injuries were reported.

The crash also caused a rupture in one of the barges, which was carrying 1 million gallons of the petroleum product naphtha.

A U.S Coast Guard spokesman told Reuters that a section of the Houston Ship Channel is closed. The extent of the spill is unclear at this time.

This is a developing story...

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