Signs of oil spill seen in Cebu sea mishap, says PCG

By: 11 years ago

A young fisherman with his right foot tainted with oil believed to be from the sunken ferry St. Thomas Aquinas sits at the bow of his boat on August 17, 2013 as rescue operations continue (in background) after the morning after the ferry collided with a cargo ship off the town of Talisay near the Philippines’ second largest city of Cebu. Philippine rescuers searched on August 17 for more than 200 people missing after the ferry collided with the cargo ship in thick darkness and sank almost instantly, with 26 already confirmed dead. AFP

MANILA, Philippines—Signs of oil spill were seen in Cebu waters where a ship carrying 20 tons of diesel oil sank after it collided with a cargo vessel Friday night, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

PCG Commander Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena said an oil spill response team has been sent to avert a massive oil leak in Lawis Ledge, a dangerous choke point off Cebu’s Talisay City, where passenger ship MV St. Thomas Aquinas collided with MV Sulpicio Express Siete.

Transportation Secretary Emilio Joseph Abaya said there were no reports yet of oil slick on the shoreline.

MV St. Thomas Aquinas was carrying 831 people and 20 tons of diesel oil when it went down. Frances Mangosing, INQUIRER.net