How a capsized tanker has caused a devastating oil spill in the Philippines | DW News

Summary

Typhoon CI has caused a devastating oil spill in Manila Bay after a tanker carrying 1.5 million liters of fuel sank. The Philippine Coast Guard is working to contain the spill with floating barriers. The storm has also left a trail of destruction across Taiwan and the Philippines, causing severe flooding and multiple deaths. Experts discuss the environmental impact and the challenges of cleaning up the sticky bunker fuel oil, while Greenpeace calls for oil companies to be held accountable for the disaster.

Takeaways

• 🌀 Typhoon CI has caused significant damage across Taiwan and the Philippines, leading to strong winds and heavy rains.
• 🚢 A Philippine tanker carrying 1.5 million liters of fuel sank in Manila Bay due to huge waves, resulting in an extensive oil spill.
• 🛑 The Philippine Coast Guard has initiated emergency measures to contain the oil spill using floating barriers to prevent further leakage.
• 🔍 All but one crew member were rescued in a high-risk nighttime operation, highlighting the urgency and danger of the situation.
• 🌊 The oil spill poses a potential environmental disaster near Manila, with the slick stretching for several kilometers.
• 📉 Five freighters were stranded off Taiwan, with one sinking and ongoing search efforts for its crew.
• 🏠 Torrential rains have caused severe flooding in the Philippines, with residents in the southern city of Kung scrambling to save their belongings.
• 🌊 The typhoon is also impacting mainland China's Eastern Fujian province, with the National Marine forecaster issuing its first Red Alert of the year.
• 📚 Professor Michelle Boufadel from the New Jersey Institute of Technology discusses the challenges of managing the oil spill, especially given the thick and sticky nature of bunker fuel oil.
• 🌱 Greenpeace's Manfred Zanton emphasizes the potential long-term environmental impact, including effects on birds, people, and the fishing industry, and calls for oil companies to be held accountable.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the script?

The main issue discussed is an oil spill caused by a sunken tanker in Manila Bay following Typhoon CI, which is threatening the environment and the capital city of the Philippines.

What was the tanker carrying when it sank?

The tanker was carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of fuel when it sank after encountering huge waves in Manila Bay.

What measures are being taken to contain the oil spill?

The Philippine Coast Guard has launched an operation using floating barriers to contain the spill and prevent further leakage, aiming to avert a major environmental disaster.

How many crew members were rescued from the sunken tanker?

All but one of the crew members were rescued in a risky nighttime operation.

What is the nature of the oil that was being carried by the tanker?

The tanker was carrying a thick oil known as bunker fuel oil, which is sticky and can adhere to surfaces.

What are the potential environmental impacts of the oil spill in Manila Bay?

The oil spill could impact the local environment, including underwater ecosystems, birds, and the livelihoods of fishermen. It might also mix with sediments and sink to the bottom, posing risks to water intakes for energy plants.

How does the storm's severity affect the oil spill's dispersion?

The storm's churning waters could dilute the oil in the bay, but it might also mix with sediments and sink, posing long-term risks that could be reactivated by future storms.

What is the significance of the oil spill for the local community and environment?

The oil spill poses a significant threat to the local community, affecting fishermen's businesses and potentially leading to long-term environmental damage, including the destruction of ecosystems and harm to wildlife.

What is the role of oil companies in such disasters according to Greenpeace?

Greenpeace calls for oil companies to be held responsible and accountable for the consequences of oil spills, including helping with cleanup efforts and compensating for losses and damages.

What is the scale of this oil spill in the context of Philippine history?

According to Greenpeace, this could be one of the biggest oil spills in the Philippines in many years.

What is the current status of the typhoon after the events in the Philippines?

After causing destruction in the Philippines, Typhoon CI has moved on to mainland China, where it is battering the eastern Fujian province with strong winds and heavy rain.

Outlines

00:00

🌪️ Typhoon CI's Aftermath: Oil Spill Threatens Manila Bay

In the aftermath of Typhoon CI, authorities are urgently working to manage an oil spill near Manila, Philippines. The storm has moved into mainland China, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rains. A Philippine tanker, carrying 1.5 million liters of fuel, sank in Manila Bay after facing massive waves, resulting in an oil slick that spans several kilometers. The Philippine Coast Guard has initiated containment measures with floating barriers to prevent further leakage and a potential environmental catastrophe. Despite challenging conditions, all but one crew member were rescued in a risky nighttime operation. Meanwhile, Taiwan reports five freighters stranded and one sunk, with ongoing search efforts for the missing crew. Typhoon CI has caused significant destruction and fatalities in the Philippines and Taiwan, with severe flooding in the southern city of Kung. The storm is now impacting China's Eastern Fujian province. Michelle Boufadel, a professor at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, discusses the response to the oil spill, emphasizing the protection of vulnerable areas such as power plant intakes and wetlands. The oil in question is described as thick bunker fuel oil, which, while less likely to spread like lighter oils, poses a significant risk due to its stickiness and potential to contaminate large areas.

05:00

🚢 The Fragility of Tankers and Environmental Impact of Oil Spills

The discussion continues with insights from Manfred Zanton of Greenpeace, who highlights the potential severity of the oil spill in Manila Bay, possibly one of the largest in recent Philippine history. With nearly 1.5 million liters of oil at risk, the environmental implications are grave, particularly if the oil spreads to the rich underwater ecosystems south of Manila Bay. The impact on wildlife, local communities, and the fishing industry is a significant concern. Zanton emphasizes the need for oil companies to be held accountable for such disasters, advocating for government intervention to ensure they contribute to cleanup efforts and compensate for damages. The conversation underscores the vulnerability of tankers during severe storms and the critical need for oil companies to take responsibility for environmental disasters they may cause.

Keywords

💡Typhoon CI

Typhoon CI is the name given to a powerful tropical storm that has caused significant destruction and environmental issues in the regions it has impacted, including Taiwan, the Philippines, and mainland China. In the video, Typhoon CI is mentioned as the cause of the oil spill in Manila Bay and the subsequent environmental concerns. The storm's strong winds and heavy rains have led to severe flooding and other damages, emphasizing the theme of natural disasters and their consequences.

💡Oil spill

An oil spill refers to the release of a large quantity of oil into the environment, often due to accidents like shipwrecks. In the context of the video, an oil spill is the central environmental disaster caused by Typhoon CI, where a tanker sank in Manila Bay, resulting in a massive oil slick. The term is crucial as it highlights the immediate and long-term ecological and economic impacts, such as damage to marine life, fisheries, and the potential for oil to contaminate water sources.

💡Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a significant geographical location mentioned in the video, where the oil spill took place. It is a bay on the western side of Luzon Island in the Philippines and is near the capital, Manila. The bay's proximity to the capital and its ecological importance make the oil spill particularly concerning, as it could threaten the city's water supply and the local ecosystem.

💡Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard is a government agency responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and environmental protection within the country's waters. In the video, they are highlighted for launching an operation to contain the oil spill, using floating barriers to prevent further leakage. This keyword is significant as it demonstrates the response measures taken by authorities to mitigate the disaster's effects.

💡Bunker fuel oil

Bunker fuel oil, also known as heavy fuel oil, is a thick, viscous oil used primarily for powering ships. In the video, it is mentioned as the type of oil that the sunken tanker was carrying. This keyword is important because it describes the nature of the oil involved in the spill, which is sticky and can have long-lasting environmental impacts, such as adhering to surfaces and potentially sinking to the ocean floor.

💡Environmental disaster

An environmental disaster refers to a catastrophic event causing extensive damage to the environment, often with long-lasting effects. The video discusses the potential for the oil spill to become a major environmental disaster near Manila, affecting marine life, coastal ecosystems, and human activities such as fishing. This term encapsulates the severity of the situation and the broader implications for the region's ecology and economy.

💡Contingency plan

A contingency plan is a prearranged course of action designed to respond to emergencies or unexpected events. In the video, Professor Michelle Boufadel mentions that the Philippines seems to have a contingency plan to deal with the oil spill. This keyword is significant as it underscores the importance of preparedness and the steps taken to protect vulnerable areas and mitigate the disaster's impact.

💡Storm surge

A storm surge is a rise in sea level during a storm, often associated with hurricanes and typhoons, caused by strong winds pushing water towards the shore. The video discusses Typhoon CI's impact, including storm surges that contributed to the oil spill and flooding. This keyword is relevant as it illustrates the compounding effects of the typhoon on coastal areas and the exacerbation of the oil spill situation.

💡Search and rescue

Search and rescue operations are efforts to locate and save people in distress, often following disasters. The video mentions a risky nighttime operation to rescue the crew of the sunken tanker. This keyword is important as it highlights the human aspect of the disaster, emphasizing the risks and efforts involved in saving lives in the aftermath of such events.

💡Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an international non-governmental organization known for its environmental activism and advocacy. In the video, a representative from Greenpeace discusses the oil spill's potential consequences and calls for oil companies to be held accountable. This keyword is significant as it introduces the perspective of environmental advocacy groups and their role in addressing the environmental and social impacts of oil spills.

Highlights

Typhoon CI has caused an oil spill threatening Manila, Philippines.

The storm has moved into mainland China bringing strong winds and heavy rains.

A Philippine tanker carrying 1.5 million liters of fuel sank in Manila Bay after encountering huge waves.

The Philippine Coast Guard launched an operation to contain the oil spill with floating barriers.

All but one crew member were rescued in a risky nighttime operation.

Five freighters were stranded off Taiwan, and one more had sunk with ongoing search efforts for the missing crew.

Typhoon CI has caused destruction and several deaths across the Philippines and Taiwan.

Torrential rains have caused severe flooding in southern Taiwan.

The typhoon is the strongest tropical storm to hit Taiwan in 8 years.

Preparations for the deluge were underway in Fuzhou, China, with the National Marine forecaster issuing its first Red Alert of the year.

Professor Michelle Boufadel discusses the contingency plan to protect vulnerable areas like power plant intakes and wetlands.

The oil involved is a thick bunker fuel oil that sticks to everything and is difficult to clean up.

The stormy conditions may help break up the fuel spill but could also mix it with sediments, causing it to sink.

The tanker's sinking in Manila Bay raises questions about the structural integrity of such vessels during storms.

Manfred Zanton from Greenpeace suggests the oil spill could be one of the biggest in the Philippines in many years.

The environmental impact of the spill depends on currents and weather, with potential effects on underwater ecosystems.

Climate activists call for oil companies to be held responsible for disasters like this and to pay for the damages.

Transcripts

in the wake of typhoon CI Philippine

authorities are racing to contain an oil

spill that is threatening the capitol

Manila the storm has now roared into

mainland China where people are bracing

for strong winds and heavy rains now Cy

has left a trail of Devastation across

Taiwan and the

Philippines a Philippine tanker carrying

nearly 1 and a half million liters of

fuel sank after encountering huge waves

in Manila Bay the accident caused an oil

slick stretching for several kilometers

the Philippine Coast Guard launched an

operation to contain the bill with

floating barriers to stop any more fuel

leaking and prevent a major

environmental disaster close to the

capital officials said they rescued all

but one of the crew members in a risky

nighttime

operation meanwhile Taiwan said five

Freighters were stranded off the island

and one more had sunk search efforts

were ongoing for its missing crew

typhoon CI has left a trail of

Destruction and several deaths across

the Philippines and Taiwan torrential

rains have caused severe

flooding residents in the southern city

of kung scrambled to salvage their

belongings as floodwater inundated their

homes it's the strongest tropical storm

to hit Taiwan in 8

years now the typhoon is battering

Mainland China's Eastern fujian province

with strong winds and torrential rain

preparations for the Deluge were already

well underway in

fuan the National Marine forecaster

issued its first Red Alert of the

year it's the latest storm in a summer

of unrelenting weather Extremes in

China I'm joined Now by Michelle

boufadel he's a professor at the New

Jersey Institute of Technology and he

has done a lot of research on major oil

spills particularly in the United States

Professor it's good to have you with us

what kind of operation is underway right

now in the Philippines in Manila

Bay well uh I mean in I mean I'm I'm not

at at that location but I would looking

at it it seems like they have a very

nice contingency plan to deal with this

but I would imagine that the first thing

to do is that you know they they want to

protect the vulnerable areas and that

usually is the intake for example for

power plants and secondary level would

be for example Wetlands so these are the

most sensitive areas the one

economically and then ecologically

that's that's that in that it goes in

that order now because of the conditions

I don't think there's much that they can

do they cannot you know go there with

boats and then mechanically kind of skim

the oil and bring it together uh it it's

going to be dangerous for The Operators

so I think they would just wait and

until the storm subsides MH U now what

we know about that oil is that it's a

pretty thick oil it is what they call

Bunker flu uh bunker fuel oil MH and uh

essentially it might not spread similar

to other light oils but uh but the

problem with it is that it can stick to

everything it's very sticky when you

know the thicker the oil the more it

sticks and professor and then

ask you about that you know you're

saying it it will it will stick to

everything I understand that the tanker

is carrying about one and a mill one and

a half million liters of fuel we don't

know if that all of that has leaked but

if the waters are still stormy I mean if

you've got um really bad conditions

right now does that actually end up

helping the environment in the long run

will it break up the the fuel spill or

the the carpet of fuel will it break it

up more quickly is that an

Advantage it is it is in some way it is

an advantage but you know this is

happening in a bay you know in a bay so

it's not an Open Sea if it is an Open

Sea you say yes it is diluting it in a

bay it might just get the oil to be out

of your control and then it might go to

places where you don't want it to go but

uh usually you have this when there's

the churning and there's the the

violence of the water it uh it mixes the

o oil the problem there is that maybe

yes it dilutes it in the bay but it

could also mix with sediments and then

it will sink to the bottom and nothing

happens until there's another major

storm and then it gets suspended and

then released to the Shor lines or you

know as as I mentioned for example the

water intake for water for uh energy

plants these oil tankers I mean these

are gigantic vessels and when we see

them we almost think of as being

something that's really hard to sink um

but doesn't this show us though that the

whole of these tankers is a lot more

fragile than maybe the Layman thinks

particularly when you're dealing with

terrible

storms yeah I mean in in this particular

case it is it is really surprising

especially it is in in Manila Bay it's

not in totally open sea so I think uh

the the the structure integrity is

something that people would look after

and see why would something like that

happens Professor Michelle Buel from the

New Jersey Institute of Technology

Professor we appreciate your time and

your analysis tonight thank

you I want to bring in now Manfred

zanton he is with Greenpeace Mr zanton

it's good to have you with us what are

your colleagues in the Philippines what

are they telling you about this oil

spill yes hello good evening uh yeah

what our colleagues say is that uh this

oil spill could be one of the biggest uh

that uh we know in the Philippines since

many many years it's almost 1.5 million

liters of oil in the tanker we don't

know how much has been released already

to the water but um as mentioned uh in

the report o slicks are visible already

you say oil slicks are visible already I

understand this spill is taking place in

Manila Bay so it's not out on the open

Waters of the ocean talk to me about the

implications of that in terms of

environmental

destruction it depends on on currents

and uh and weather of course where where

the oil will go to so if it stays in

Manila Bay then uh the effect will be on

the environment in that Waters but south

of Manila Bay for example you have one

of the most beautiful underwater uh

ecosystems you can imagine so but we

don't know if the oil will uh impact

that as well uh what we can say of

course is that birds will be affected

that people will be affected that

fishermen business will be affected so

it's it's near to a big

catastroph I know that climate activists

complain that oil companies often do not

take responsibility for disasters like

this what can be done in your opinion to

make sure that these oil companies that

they pay the

bill yeah that's that's a very good

question so what what can be done so our

colleagues and but also not only green

peas Al also many communities call on

the government in the Philippines to uh

to hold the biggest oil and gas

companies responsible and accountable

for the consequences of such oil spills

so they have to help to clean up uh this

uh pollution but they also have to pay

for the losses and damages this is one

of the of the most important demands uh

that that we have right now yeah well we

will certainly stay on the story and see

if they do foot the bill here mon zanton

with green piece Mr zanton we appreciate

your time tonight thank you