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World IN BRIEF : SHETLANDS : Tanker Breaks Up, Spills Most of Oil

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From Times Staff and Wire Services

The wrecked oil tanker Braer broke up against the rocky cliffs of the Shetland Islands, releasing virtually all that remained of its cargo of nearly 25 million gallons of Norwegian crude oil. The 790-foot vessel broke into at least three pieces after being grounded against the rugged edge of the Bay of Quendale for a week. The cargo was more than twice the amount spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska in 1989. Conservationists said the wind and waves that shattered the tanker now are the best hope for dispersing the spill.

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