Approximately 30 metric tons of diesel fuel were discharged into the Yenisei River in Siberia after a vessel towing two barges ran aground and disintegrated in shallow waters, as reported by Russian officials on Monday.

According to investigators, the ship collided with an underwater obstruction, which caused the barges to separate and puncture the vessel’s hull, leading to fuel leakage around 6 p.m. local time on Sunday.

The Yenisei River, originating in northern Mongolia and flowing into the Arctic Ocean, is 3,487 kilometers (2,167 miles) long, ranking it as the fifth longest river in the world.

Prosecutors indicated that the spill extended up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) along the riverbank and that they were supervising cleanup operations. The vessel’s operator was identified as the Ob-Irtysh River Shipping Company, based in Tyumen.

The Krasnoyarsk branch of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the crew successfully prevented the barges from drifting further downstream.

In response to the incident, a state of emergency was declared in the Kazachinsky district of the Krasnoyarsk region. District head Yury Ozerskikh mentioned that the oil spill had reached the shores of two villages but did not present an immediate danger to the local population.

“The spill presents a significant threat to the regional ecosystem, especially impacting aquatic life and vegetation along the banks,” Ozerskikh stated on Telegram.

Environmental authorities have taken water samples from both upstream and downstream locations for analysis.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, which focuses on serious crimes, has initiated a criminal investigation into alleged breaches of transportation and environmental safety regulations concerning hazardous materials.