Photos: With pails and mugs, Philippine residents clean up oil spill

Authorities believe they have found the tanker that sank off Oriental Mindoro last week

Published: March 07, 2023 17:58 Reuters

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Pola: Residents of a central Philippine province affected by an oil spill from a sunken tanker endured the powerful stench of petroleum as they cleaned it up using buckets and mugs while authorities raced to contain environmental damage. Image Credit: Reuters

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Wearing personal protective equipment and masks, residents of the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, with the help of Philippine coast guard crew, collected debris soaked in oil and wiped thick sludge from rocks along the shore. Image Credit: AFP

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"Here in our area the oil is really thick and the smell is strong," said 34-year-old resident Maribel Famadico while cleaning along the shore with other volunteers. Image Credit: Reuters

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"There is so much oil that we become nauseous when we are not wearing protection. Many are feeling unwell because of the stench," she added. Image Credit: Reuters

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Philippine authorities said on Monday they believed they have found the tanker that sank off Oriental Mindoro last week and that they planned to deploy a remotely-operated autonomous vehicle to pinpoint its exact location. Image Credit: Reuters

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The tanker, the MT Princess Empress, is thought to be lying at about 1,200 feet (366 metres) below sea level, off Oriental Mindoro province, though the information still needed to be verified, according to the environment ministry. Image Credit: AFP

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The vessel was carrying about 800,000 litres (211,338 gallons) of industrial fuel oil when it suffered engine trouble on Feb. 28 in rough seas. Image Credit: AFP

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Famadico said ridding the shore and rocks of oil will likely take days. Image Credit: Reuters

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"(The oil) comes back with the tide. Yesterday we cleaned this area but there is more again today," she said. Image Credit: Reuters

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Marine scientists at the University of the Philippines said about 36,000 hectares (88,958 acres) of coral reef, mangroves and sea-grass were potentially in danger of being affected by the oil slick. Image Credit: Reuters

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A volunteer collects debris with oil spill from the sunken fuel tanker MT Princess Empress. Image Credit: Reuters

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Volunteers collect debris covered with oil along the coastline. Image Credit: AFP

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