THE Philippine Coast Guard is preparing to deploy floating barriers and suction hoses to contain the oil spill and prevent it from reaching the capital, Manila.
Authorities are scrambling to stop an oil spill from the MT Terra Nova, which capsized Thursday as monsoon rains pounded much of the country. The leak appears to have come from the ship’s engine, not from a cargo tank carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of industrial fuel, officials said.
A “monstrous” oil spill stretching several kilometers has been detected, and there are concerns it could be the worst in the country’s history if it is not controlled. The coast guard is “preparing for the worst,” said Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, a coast guard spokesman.
“We are talking about industrial fuel here… This will definitely affect the marine environment and could even reach us in Manila,” he added.
Hernando Bacosa, an environmental scientist at Mindanao State University, told the BBC the amount of oil the ship was carrying would require the country’s highest oil spill alert to be issued.
“Manila Bay is home to the Port of Manila, the largest port in the Philippines and the center of trade and economic activity. This could potentially paralyze the capital and its surrounding areas,” he said.
Read also: Typhoon Gaemi Causes Major Damage in Taiwan and the Philippines
Monsoon rains, exacerbated by Typhoon Gaemi, caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. The MT Terra Nova was one of two ships that sank in the region during the typhoon, with the second ship sinking off the southwest coast of Taiwan.
The ship was heading to the Philippine city of Iloilo when it sank, with 17 crew members on board. One person died, but 16 were rescued, officials said. Authorities are investigating whether bad weather was a factor.
“They felt the waves were very strong. The captain decided to return to the shore, but it was difficult because they were sailing against the waves. They said the ship was collecting water until it finally capsized,” Rear Admiral Balilo said. (BBC/Z-3)
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