Philippines seeks Japan, US help as oil spill spreads 10 days after tanker sank
- The Princess Empress sank with 800,000 litres of industrial fuel oil on board and is 400 metres undersea – the Philippines cannot reach it to remove the oil
- Philippine coastguard said oil has been found as far away as Casian Island, about 350km southwest of where the tanker sank
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The Philippines has sought help from Japan and the United States, authorities said, as they struggle to contain and clean up an oil spill 10 days after a tanker sank.
The Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 litres (210,000) of industrial fuel oil when it went down in rough seas off the central island of Mindoro, south of the capital Manila.
The vessel is believed to be about 400 metres (1,300 feet) below the waves, but Philippine authorities have said the country does not have the capability to reach the wreckage and remove the oil.
Japan has sent coastguard personnel to Manila to support the investigation into the spill and “guide the ongoing oil removal and control activities”, the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday.
Manila had also requested help from the United States, coastguard spokesman Armando Balilo said. He did not elaborate on the type of help sought, and the US embassy did not immediately comment.
Diesel fuel and thick oil from the tanker have contaminated the waters and beaches of nine municipalities along the coast of Oriental Mindoro province, known for its rich marine life. More than 2,500 hectares (6,200 acres) of coral reefs, mangroves and seaweed could be affected by the spill, the environment ministry said previously.
It is not known how much diesel and oil have leaked into the water. The Philippine coastguard said on Friday it had found oil as far away as Casian Island, off the North coast of the Western island of Palawan. That is about 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of where the tanker sank.
Dozens of people have fallen ill in Oriental Mindoro after oil washed up on their shores, the provincial government said earlier this week.
Residents and coastguard personnel have been removing oil-coated seaweed and other debris from affected beaches.
An oil spill boom was deployed on Wednesday after rough seas hampered earlier efforts to contain the slick
Thousands of fishermen have been ordered to stay on shore until they can fish safely, and swimming is also banned.
