More than 100 families have been put on alert for possible evacuation as army soldiers and rescue workers pump fuel from the tanker using pipelines, an official said.

The Vietnamese-flagged Cuu Long 01 was grounded near a beach in the central Vietnamese city of Danang, one of the country's most popular destinations for foreign tourists, after losing its anchor in rough seas on December 13.

"So far, more than 700 cubic meters of petrol were brought into land. The spill is under control, just some fuel scum were found in the water," the official said.

"It is too early to assess the level of environmental pollution, but we are trying out best to make sure that it was not a catastrophe," he added.

TERRA.WIRE