Oil spill feared as cargo vessel sinks off central Philippines

Manila: Authorities expressed fear about oil spill from a cargo vessel that sank following a collision with another cargo vessel off central Philippines, after a low pressure area in the Pacific Ocean turned into a storm, sources said.

MV Sportivo has 12,000 litres of bunker fuel when it collided with MV Jehan in the Iloilo Strait off Guimaras Island in the Visayas on early Sunday, said the Philippine Coast Guard, adding that a Coast Guard ship was dispatched to siphon Sportivo’s fuel on Monday.

The Coast Guard said it could focus on preventing an oil spill as all the crew members of the ill-fated cargo vessel were safe.

MV Sportivo developed a hole in its hull and sank when it hit MV Jehan at 5 on Sunday morning. Its captain Nemesio Igona said in a radio interview that big waves and strong winds forced his ship to collide with MV Jehan.

Earlier, MV Sportivo dropped anchor in Iloilo Strait because as storm Lingling in the Pacific Ocean neared Davao City, southern Philippines. But the captain eventually decided to continue to deliver fertiliser to Palawan in southwestern Philippines.

It is not known why the incident occurred because the Philippine Coast Guard prevented 42 vessels, 34 motor boats, and 607 rolling cargoes from sailing because of the weather disturbance which started since a week ago.

Flights were also cancelled and about 5,000 people were stranded, said the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Death toll of the low pressure area and Lingling has reached 41 on Monday, up from 40 on Sunday, NDRRMC said.

Lingling has also displaced a total of 723,000 residents in three-affected regions, said the NDRMMC, adding that 200,000 of them were placed at 337 evacuation centres. Impassable and damaged roads and bridges also hampered relief assistance.

Many residents in affected southern Philippines are still reeling from Typhon Bopha which killed 1,900 in December 2012.

Lingling also sent rains to central Philippines where 8,000 were killed and 11 million were affected by Typhoon Haiyan last November 8.

About 20 typhoons visit the Philippines every year starting June. Lingling’s arrival early in the year could signal a longer rainy season.