Vessel carrying 10,000 gallons of oil sinks into Mississippi River

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding after a vessel carrying thousands of gallons of oil sank in the Mississippi River in northeast Arkansas.

The agency was notified by Terral River Service at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday of an uninspected towing vessel sinking at Hickman Landing near Blytheville, according to a news release.

Authorities said the vessel, called the Virginia Renee, had 10,000 gallons of diesel on board.

Boom and absorbent pads were being used Wednesday afternoon to limit the spread of oil in the area, according to the Coast Guard.

Divers were on scene as of around 12:20 p.m., the release states.