Rescuers have removed ten people from the an oil tanker in distress in the Kerch Strait and are searching for another three, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said on Saturday evening.

"Ten people were evacuated onto to tug boat Sirius. Searches for three people are ongoing, as is an inspection of the ship," the ministry said.

Earlier reports said that six were rescued.

There is no open combustion on the ship, the ministry said.

It was reported that an explosion and fire had occurred aboard the oil tanker General Azi Aslanov in the Azov Sea on Saturday. The tanker was sailing from the port of Kavkaz to Rostov-on-Don. Its crew consists of 13 people.

The governor of Krasnodar Territory, Veniamin Kondratyev, has offered medical assistance.

"An accident occurred in the Azov Sea; a fire and an explosion in an oil tanker. The vessel was empty but it was carrying the crew. Regional medics are ready, if necessary, to travel promptly to the scene and provide medical assistance to crew members of the oil tanker General Azi Aslanov. We can use air ambulance, if necessary," Kondratyev wrote on his Telegram-channel.

Rescue efforts were now underway and an emergency response team had been formed, he said.