Aerial footage shows oil spill from sunken tanker in the Philippines
Published date: Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:06:18 +0700
Aerial footage taken on July 27 shows an oil spill caused by the ill-fated MT Terra Nova, that sank off Bataan province in the Philippines during typhoon Gaemi on July 25.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the spill has spread up to 14 kilometres from the site as of July 29, but added that the pollution was still manageable with dispersants.
Divers were sealing leaking valves on the tanker, with siphoning operations expected to start on Tuesday, July 30.
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said: 'The order is to cover and seal the valves first to ensure there are no additional leaks before starting the siphoning operations.'
The MT Terra Nova sank off Bataan province as typhoon Gaemi lashed the Philippines early morning on July 25. One crewman aboard died, while 16 others were rescued.
The Philippine Coast Guard is bracing to contain a major oil spill, as the vessel was reported to have been carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel.
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.
