Oil spill from sunken ship threatens 21 protected marine areas in Philippines

The Philippine Coast Guard says industrial fuel oil has started spilling from the sunken motor tanker off the coast of Oriental Mindoro as at March 2, 2023. - PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

MANILA (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Philippine authorities are rushing to contain a worsening oil spill from a sunken tanker that was carrying up to 800,000 litres of industrial oil, with 21 protected marine areas at risk if the leak is not contained.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday (March 2) confirmed that some of the industrial oil cargo of the MT Princess Empress has started leaking from the ship.