FRANCE: The Maltese registered oil tanker Erika sank off of Northwestern France Sunday December 12th 1999 after breaking in half and pouring thousands of tons of fuel oil into the ocean.
Efforts by the tugboat Abeille Flandres to bring the rear of Erika into open waters, in hopes of avoiding ecological disaster, were documented by Jean Gaumy, the only photographer on board.

Thousands of birds , victims of the ecological disaster are taken to specialized centres for treatment.

The black tide has invaded beaches and rocks along the Atlantic coast. Thousands of volonteers and firemen are...