Philippine tanker sinks near Manila, sparking urgent efforts to prevent major oil spill
Date
7/25/2024 8:22:13 AM
(MENAFN) On Thursday morning, the Philippine-flagged tanker MT Terra Nova, carrying 1.4 million liters of oil, sank off the coast of Manila after running aground. The vessel was en route to Iloilo City in the central Philippines when it encountered trouble approximately seven kilometers from Limay, a city situated on Manila Bay. The incident has prompted immediate actions to prevent a significant oil spill, with authorities working tirelessly to contain the situation and search for one missing crew member.
The Philippine Border Guard's spokesman, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, expressed urgency in managing the crisis, emphasizing the potential magnitude of the disaster. An oil slick, spanning 3.7 kilometers, has already been detected, driven by strong currents towards the eastern and northeastern parts of the bay. If the oil cargo from the tanker leaks, it could become the largest oil spill in Philippine history, with potentially severe impacts on the Manila coast due to the proximity of the sinking site to the bay.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista reported that 16 out of 17 crew members have been rescued, with one person still unaccounted for. Four crew members are currently receiving medical treatment. The Philippine Coast Guard confirmed that the tanker ran aground and subsequently took on water, exacerbating the situation. The accident occurred amidst heavy rains caused by Typhoon Gaime and the ongoing rainy season, which have recently impacted the northern Philippines, including Manila.
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