Philippine's Worst Oil Spill Threatens Panay Island
Josephine Roque - All Headline News Staff Writer Nueva Valencia, Philippines (AHN) - The Philippine's worst oil spill from a sunken tanker is threatening to reach a second island in the central Philippines. Poor villagers of Guimaras have gathered on the beaches and mangroves in an attempt to contain the mess. Foreign contractors are also scheduled to arrive to survey the tanker. Local coastguard commander Harold Jarder said the oil had spread from the small island of Guimaras towards nearby island of Panay. Jarder reported that the slick, reaching an estimated 15 nautical miles, has congealed to a "chocolate mousse-like residue." Iloilo Governor Neil Tupaz has already ordered coastal villages to brace for the worst with booms made of bamboo poles and dried grass about a mile from the shoreline. Jarder told AFP, "We need to salvage the sunken ship as soon as possible." The oil has already infected some 136 miles of coastline, destroyed 1,121 acres of mangroves and 58 hectares of seaweed farms in Guimaras island. Jarder added, "The problem has become widespread. There are now more areas that are affected." An estimated 50,000 gallons of oil was released from the Petron Corp. tanker Solar 1 when it sank last August 11 off. The catastrophe has led to damage to marine parks, beaches and fishing grounds. It is surmised that some 450,000 gallons is still in that tanker's hold. Experts claim |
