Oil tanker capsizes during typhoon Gaemi killing one and sparking oil spill fears in the Philippines

An oil tanker sank in rough waters during Typhoon Gaemi, killing one crewman and sparking oil spill fears in the Philippines.

The MT Terra Nova was carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel when it was struck by huge waves off Limay town in Bataan province early morning on July 25.

Footage shows the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducting a search and rescue for the 17 personnel on board as typhoon Gaemi was battering the country.

PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said: 'At about 10 pm, they felt that the waves were strong and the captain decided to return. But immediately, they had a hard time returning because they were met by strong waves and the term that the crew used was they 'scooped up waves' until the ship was filled with water and they completely capsized.'

He added that 16 sailors were rescued, while the PCG's BRP Melchora Aquino continued scouring the choppy seas for the last missing crewman.

In a statement, MT Terra Nova's ship manager confirmed that the sailor, Alvin Llandelar, 40, was found dead on Thursday afternoon.

The statement read: 'The ship management company truly regrets the demise of one of its exemplary marine officers. Second Mate Llandelar has been with the company since August 2023, but prior to this he had sailed on board international ships for several years.'

The Philippine Coast Guard said it was preparing to contain a possible major oil spill, after an aerial inspection found a 3.7-kilometre oil slick being carried by strong currents near the site of the capsizing.

Admiral Balilo said: 'We are racing against time and we will try to do our best to contain it immediately and stop the fuel from leaking. There is a big danger that Manila will be affected, even the shoreline of Manila, if the fuel will leak, because it is within Manila Bay.'

Authorities hoped to siphon the fuel, as the ill-fated tanker had sunk to a 'considerably shallow' depth of 34 metres underwater.

Last February, the MT Princess Empress tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel sank and caused a disastrous oil spill in the Philippines' Oriental Mindoro province.

The spill took three months to contain, destroying swathes of coral reefs and disrupting the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen across at least six provinces.