Oslo  - An oil spill was threatening southern Norway on Friday after a Panama-registered freighter ran aground overnight, Norwegian officials reported.

Regional authorities in the southern province of Telemark said that diesel oil spilling from the 167-metre-long Full City was now approaching the town of Langesund.

The vessel, with a crew of 23 Chinese seamen, suffered engine failure and then ran aground in stormy conditions in the Skagerrak Sea. The Full City was carrying 1,100 tons of oil.

Except for an emergency crew of six left on board, all other crew members were evacuated, while Norwegian officials sounded the alarm to try to prevent an oil catastrophe. (dpa)