Taiwan prepares for a strong typhoon that worsened monsoon rains in the Philippines, killing 12
Associated PressJUL 21 2024
Authorities in the Philippines are working to remove 1.4M liters of industrial oil from a capsized oil tanker in Manilla Bay as fuel from the ship's engine has already spilled out. The Coast Guard has set a goal of offloading the oil and containing the spill within seven days.
The 213-feet long MT Terra Nova was sunk by monsoon conditions worsened by Typhoon Gaemi while sailing to the Philippine city of Iloilo. 16 out of 17 sailors were rescued, and the ship was found to be meeting the conditions for sailing in inclement weather.
Coast guard spokesperson, Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, says that crews are "racing against time" to siphon the industrial oil and prevent a larger spill. The oil reservoirs on board are believed to be structurally sound, and none of it has leaked as of yet.
Oil spills are a disaster into themselves, and have devastated communities in the Philippines in the past. What's worse, inclement weather caused by climate change poses a risk of spreading the contamination into freshwater sources, compounding the havoc they can wreak on humans and wildlife. The Philippines must buck the influence of the oil and gas industry and their dubious practices by ensuring that pollutors pay.