London - Hundreds of people spent last night away from their homes as a blaze continued to rage aboard a stricken chemical tanker. Villagers living close to Dunnet Head on the north coast of Scotland were moved yesterday as fears grew about the potentially explosive cargo on board the Multitank Ascania. It is carrying 1750 tonnes of toxic vinyl acetate.
An exclusion zone was set up by the emergency services amid fears that the tanker, lying half a mile from Brough Bay, could run aground.
About 200 people from the nearby villages of Mey, where the Queen Mother has a house, and Scarfskerry, were moved to local community centres while experts tried to establish the level of danger.
The Transport Minister, Mr John Reid, flew from London to view the operation. He said the government was treating the incident very seriously.