A huge oil spill has spread off the coast of Oriental Mindoro province south of the capital Manila after an oil tanker sank off the Philippines. More than 100,000 people have already been affected by the environmental catastrophe, as they have lost their livelihoods or suffer health consequences, provincial governor Humerlito Dolor said Monday.
The MT Princess Empress sank two weeks ago with 800,000 liters of industrial oil on board. Since then, it escapes from the ship, which lies at a depth of about 400 meters. The full extent of the environmental catastrophe is slowly becoming clear. “It’s a nightmare,” said Gloria Ramos, vice president of marine conservation organization Oceana Philippines.
“Health Effects”
The oil spill kills everything, not just the marine ecosystems, but also the livelihoods of those who live near it. “There are also implications for people’s health,” she added. Many tried to scrape off the oil with their bare hands. “But this is very dangerous because it can cause kidney and liver disease. The oil is so toxic,” Ramos stressed.
Fishermen affected, mangroves damaged
The tanker was still leaking, Dolor explained. The owner is working to plug the leak. “The damage in the province is quite extensive. The hardest hit are the fishermen and their families, as well as sellers of fish and fishing gear. Many fish have already died and seaweed, corals and mangroves have also been damaged.
The current also pushed the oil north, it said. There it now threatens the Strait of Isla Verde, one of the most species-rich marine habitats of all. The strait is located between the islands of Luzon and Mindoro.
Source: Krone
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