Crews begin salvage operations on towboat that sunk in Mississippi River in northeast Arkansas

January 26, 2018 at 1:05 p.m.

by The Associated Press

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - 01/24/2018 - Officials look where the towboat "Virginia Renee" sank with 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel at Hickman Landing on the Mississippi River near Blytheville, January 24, 2018. Booms and absorbent pads were being used to limit the spread of oil in the area, according to the Coast Guard.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette - 01/24/2018 - Officials look where the towboat "Virginia Renee" sank with 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel at Hickman Landing on the Mississippi River near Blytheville, January 24, 2018. Booms and absorbent pads were being used to limit the spread of oil in the area, according to the Coast Guard.

BLYTHEVILLE — The U.S. Coast Guard and local agencies are beginning salvage operations on a towboat that sank earlier this week in the Mississippi River near Blytheville.

The Coast Guard says crews plan to raise the vessel Friday. The towboat, which is named the Virginia Renee, sank early Wednesday, and it had about 10,000 gallons of diesel oil aboard.

Officials said Friday that workers have recovered about 1,000 gallons of diesel so far. Booms and absorbent pads are being used to limit the spread of the oil.

No injuries have been reported.

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