Philippines oil spill: Tanker carrying 1.4 million litres of oil capsizes

Summary

A tanker with 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel capsized off Manila Bay, Philippines, due to rough seas, resulting in the death of one crew member. The Philippine Coast Guard is struggling to contain the oil spill, which threatens fishing communities and could reach Manila. Greenpeace Philippines warns of the severe and long-lasting environmental and livelihood impacts of such spills, highlighting the challenges of cleanup and the compounded effects on coastal communities already facing the climate crisis.

Takeaways

• 🚢 A tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel has capsized off Manila Bay in the Philippines due to strong currents and rough sea conditions.
• 🔍 16 crew members were rescued, and one was initially reported missing but later found dead, resulting in a total of 17 crew members accounted for with one fatality.
• 🌊 The Philippine Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue mission following the tanker's Mayday call and has spotted an oil slick two nautical miles from the capsized site.
• 🚨 There is a significant concern that the oil spill may reach Manila, affecting fishing communities and the capital city, similar to a previous incident in Mindoro.
• 🛠️ The Philippine Coast Guard faces challenges in containing the spill due to the ongoing rough sea conditions, which may have been influenced by Typhoon Gamy.
• 🗓️ Last year's oil spill in Mindoro took 3 months to clean up, and fishermen are still awaiting compensation for damages to their livelihoods.
• 🌐 The impact of the oil spill could be grave, especially for coastal communities that rely on fishing for their livelihoods.
• 🌊 The oil spill's effects on marine life and the environment are long-lasting and may not fully recover even after visible signs of the spill are cleared.
• 🌡️ Climate change and environmental issues, such as warming seas and dying coral reefs, are already affecting fish populations and coastal communities, exacerbating the impact of the oil spill.
• 💡 The response to the oil spill involves not just the cleanup but also addressing the long-term effects on communities that depend on a healthy marine environment.
• 📢 Greenpeace Philippines Country Director, Leah Guerrero, emphasizes the severity of the situation and the importance of a comprehensive response to the oil spill.

Q & A

What was the capacity of the oil tanker that capsized off Manila Bay?

The oil tanker was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel.

How many crew members were on board the tanker, and what was the outcome of the rescue operation?

There were 17 crew members on board. 16 were rescued, and one was initially missing but later found dead.

What was the location of the oil spill in relation to Manila?

The oil spill occurred off the coast of Bataan, which is about a 5-hour drive from Manila, but technically just off Manila Bay.

What was the immediate action taken by the Philippine Coast Guard after the incident?

The Philippine Coast Guard quickly launched a search and rescue mission after receiving a Mayday call from the crew.

What is the potential impact of the oil spill on Manila and nearby fishing communities?

If not contained, the oil spill could reach Manila, affecting fishing communities and the environment, posing a major concern for the capital city.

What challenges does the Philippine Coast Guard face in containing the oil spill, especially considering the weather conditions?

The Philippine Coast Guard faces difficulties due to rough sea conditions, possibly influenced by typhoon Gamy, making it hard to dispatch assets for containment.

What was the situation with a similar oil spill that occurred south of Manila last year?

A tanker with 800,000 liters of industrial fuel capsized in Mindoro, and it took 3 months to clean up the oil spill, with fishermen still awaiting compensation.

According to Leah Guerrero, what are the long-term effects of an oil spill on marine life and coastal communities?

Oil spills can leave permanent damage to the marine environment and affect communities that depend on it, with some areas never fully recovering.

How does the current oil spill compare with the climate crisis affecting the Philippines, particularly for fisherfolk?

The oil spill adds to the difficulties faced by fisherfolk, who are already struggling with dwindling fish numbers and dying coral reefs due to the climate crisis.

What are the visible and invisible effects of an oil spill that need to be addressed?

Visible effects include the oil slick and its immediate impact on the shoreline, while invisible effects involve long-term damage to marine life and ecosystems below the water.

What is the role of Greenpeace Philippines in addressing the oil spill and its aftermath?

Greenpeace Philippines, represented by Leah Guerrero, provides insights on the environmental impact and advocates for the affected communities, particularly fisherfolk.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 Oil Spill Disaster in Manila Bay

A tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel has capsized off Manila Bay in the Philippines due to strong currents, leading to a rapidly spreading oil spill. Out of 17 crew members, 16 were rescued, but one is still missing. The Philippine Coast Guard has launched a search and rescue mission and has now recovered the body of the missing crew member. There is a significant concern that the oil spill may reach Manila, affecting fishing communities and the capital city. The Coast Guard has spotted an oil slick two nautical miles from the capsized tanker. Last year, a similar incident in Mindoro took three months to clean up, highlighting the potential severity of the situation if containment is not achieved promptly. The current weather conditions, possibly influenced by Typhoon Gamy, are complicating containment efforts, with rough seas impeding immediate response actions.

05:03

🌊 Impact and Challenges of Containing the Oil Spill

The oil spill's impact could be severe, particularly for coastal communities in the Philippines that rely heavily on fishing for their livelihood. The Bataan Province, where the ship capsized, is home to many fishermen and tourism industries that depend on marine resources. The challenges in clearing up the oil spill are significant, with long-lasting repercussions from previous spills still being felt. Oil spills can cause permanent damage to the marine environment, affecting not only the visible signs of the spill but also the underwater ecosystem, including marine life affected by chemicals. The current climate crisis exacerbates these issues, with fishermen already struggling due to dwindling fish populations and the warming of seas. The compounding effects on communities reliant on a healthy marine environment are profound, making the containment and cleanup of the oil spill a critical and urgent task.

Keywords

💡Tanker

A tanker is a large ship designed to transport liquids or gases in bulk, often used for oil. In the video's context, the tanker is the central focus as it has capsized, carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel, causing a significant oil spill off Manila Bay in the Philippines.

💡Capsized

To capsize means to turn over and become inverted, often used in reference to ships. In this video, the term is used to describe the unfortunate event where the tanker has turned over due to strong currents, leading to the oil spill.

💡Manila Bay

Manila Bay is a body of water in the Philippines, located along the western side of Luzon Island, where the capital city, Manila, is situated. It is significant in this video as the location of the oil spill, which poses a threat to the surrounding environment and communities.

💡Oil Spill

An oil spill refers to the release of a large quantity of oil into the environment, usually as a result of an accident. The video discusses the rapid spread of the oil spill due to strong currents and the efforts to contain it to prevent further environmental damage.

💡Crew Members

Crew members are the individuals working on a ship, responsible for its operation and maintenance. The script mentions that 16 out of 17 crew members were rescued, with one still missing at the time of the report, highlighting the human aspect of the maritime disaster.

💡Rough Sea Conditions

Rough sea conditions describe a state of the ocean with large waves and strong currents, often dangerous for maritime navigation. The video script indicates that the tanker encountered such conditions, which contributed to its capsizing.

💡Search and Rescue Mission

A search and rescue mission is an organized effort to locate and save people in distress, often involving specialized teams and equipment. The Philippine Coast Guard launched such a mission after receiving a Mayday call from the tanker's crew.

💡Oil Slick

An oil slick is a thin layer of oil that spreads on the surface of the water after a spill. The script mentions that an oil slick two nautical miles from the capsized tanker was spotted, indicating the extent of the spill.

💡Containment

Containment in the context of an oil spill refers to the efforts to prevent the spread of oil into the environment. The video discusses the challenges of containing the spill due to the rough sea conditions and the potential impact on Manila and nearby fishing communities.

💡Fishing Communities

Fishing communities are groups of people whose livelihoods depend on fishing and related activities. The video emphasizes the potential impact of the oil spill on these communities, as it could damage their marine resources and affect their way of life.

💡Typhoon Gamy

Typhoon Gamy is a tropical storm mentioned in the script, which may have influenced the sea conditions at the time of the tanker's capsizing. The connection suggests that extreme weather events can exacerbate maritime accidents.

💡Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an international non-governmental organization known for its environmental activism. In the video, the Greenpeace Philippines country director discusses the potential environmental impact of the oil spill and the challenges of cleanup and recovery.

💡Climate Crisis

The climate crisis refers to the ongoing changes in the Earth's climate, particularly global warming and its effects. The script connects the oil spill to the broader issue of the climate crisis, noting the additional stress it places on coastal communities already struggling with environmental challenges.

Highlights

A tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of oil has capsized off Manila Bay in the Philippines.

Strong currents are causing the oil spill to spread quickly.

16 crew members have been rescued, with one still missing at the time of the report.

The tanker sank off the coast of Bataan due to rough sea conditions.

The Philippine Coast Guard launched a search and rescue mission after receiving a Mayday call.

The body of the missing crew member was found, resulting in one death.

An oil slick has been spotted two nautical miles from the capsized tanker.

There is a concern that the oil spill may reach Manila, affecting fishing communities and the capital.

A major oil spill occurred last year in Mindoro, taking 3 months to clean up.

The current weather conditions, possibly influenced by Typhoon Gamy, are complicating containment efforts.

The Philippine Coast Guard faces challenges in dispatching assets due to rough sea conditions.

Fishermen affected by the previous oil spill in Mindoro have not yet been fully compensated.

Greenpeace Philippines Country Director Leah Guerrero discusses the potential impact of the oil spill on coastal communities.

The oil slick stretches several kilometers, posing a serious threat to marine life and livelihoods.

The long-term damage of oil spills to the marine environment is highlighted, with lasting effects on fishing communities.

The compounding effects of oil spills and climate change on coastal communities are emphasized.

Transcripts

a tanker carrying 1.4 million lers of

oil has capsized off Manila Bay in the

Philippines strong currents are causing

the spill to spread quickly 16 of the

crew members on board the tank have been

rescued one is still missing let's get

more on this with barnab low he joins us

live from Manila in the Philippines so

barnab what exactly are you hearing

about this oil

spill right so a tanker carrying 1.4

million lers of industrial fuel sank off

the coast of Bataan early hours of

Thursday now Bataan is uh just in the

northern Philippines just five a 5H hour

drive from Manila and according to the

surviving crew members 16 of them 16 out

of 17 they encountered rough sea

conditions and that is why the tanker

capsized now this information

just in from the Philippine Coast Guard

they've quickly launched a search and

rescue mission after they received

Mayday from the crew and now this just

in they they have found the body of the

missing crew member so all crew members

now counted for unfortunately that last

crew member the 17th crew member has

died but there is another major concern

now this location is technically just

off Manila Bay as you mentioned so so

it's not too far from Manila and the

Philippine Coast Guard has already

spotted an oil slick that's about two

nautical miles from where the tanker

capsized and if they're not able to

contain this oil spill it's possible

that the oil spill will reach Manila and

there are fishing communities here and

of course this is the Philippine Capital

so it is a very major concern just last

year there was a major oil spill uh

south of Manila in the province of

mindoro where a tanker with 800,000 L of

industrial fuel capsized and it took 3

months to clean up that oil spill so

this is really going to be a major

problem if that oil spill is not

contained and reaches Manila yeah to

tell us a little bit about the

challenges in containing a spill like

this especially given uh the weather

situation

that's right so you know the tanker uh

that capsized on Thursday morning it

actually happened uh right

when was battering Taiwan and was

exiting the Philippine area of

responsibility and so it's possible that

bad weather conditions bad sea

conditions were being affected by

typhoon gamy but the Philippine Coast

Guard isn't ready to make that

conclusion yet and in any case

um it's very difficult right now for the

Philippine Coast Guard and other uh

government agencies to dispatch their

assets to be able to contain the oils

spill because the sea conditions are

still very rough and that's according uh

to the Philippine Transportation

secretary uh earlier this morning when

uh there was a command conference with

Philippine president uh Ferdinand

bongbong Marcus Jr and so this is a very

challenging mission for the Philippine

Coast Guard as I said um it took 3

months for the Philippine Coast Guard to

clean up that oil spill in mindoro and

in fact even until now um uh more than a

year after that happened fishermen who

are affected uh they say that they have

not been paid um the government promised

that they will be paid for damages

because they lost their livelihoods uh

but they're still asking for that

payment from the government so it's not

just the cleanup but it's also

compensating those who will be affected

by the oil spill okay thank you for that

barnab low with that update from Manila

let's get more on this with Leah

Guerrero she is the uh Greenpeace

Philippines country director she joins

us now from Manila Leah so according to

one areal survey so far this oil slick

stretches several kilometers what sort

of an impact can an oil spill of this

size cause if it's not cleared up as

soon as possible

thanks for that question and thanks for

having me here um in your news show um

yeah uh the impact uh will be very grave

it will be very serious uh particularly

since um Coastal communities in the

Philippines are very Reliant um on

fishing for livelihood um so in the

report earlier uh by the reporter barabo

he did say that the Fisher folk um have

been the worst affected um in the oil

spill from last year um and this will be

a similar case um if uh the oil spill is

not contained on time and if it is even

if just a bit of it um reaches the

shores a lot of the people um who are

living in Bataan Province uh where the

ship capsized um are reliant um on

Marine Resources on the sea on tourism

many of them are Fisher folk um and they

will definitely um experience uh impacts

uh from this bill and and how how

difficult what are the challenges

involved in uh clearing up a a uh an oil

spill like this I mean we're you're

talking about the impacts from an oil

spill from months ago and uh the

repercussions are still being felt right

now M

um I think it's fair to say that um oil

spills uh really live uh leave um

permanent damage um to the marine

environment um and to communities that

depend on a healthy marine environment

so even if for example uh an oil spill

has been declared clear um there are uh

portions of the sea um which never

really recover a lot of the of cleaning

um and the clearing that we see are are

really the visible uh effects uh the

visible signs of the spill um but a lot

of it um is happening under the water um

where um these chemicals are affecting

marine life um and so forth um and if

you look at that uh the impact of an oil

spill against um the current uh uh

changes um the climate crisis that's

happening in the Philippines for example

uh um Fisher folk having a hard time um

uh with fish catch uh because of uh the

dwindling numbers of fish uh because of

warming of the Seas the dying of uh

coral reefs um the it all of these

together um is really making life

difficult uh for Coastal communities um

so that um if uh we say you know how

long will the impact last um until when

uh will it be cleaned um and so forth um

it's not really just the cleaning or the

the the yeah the cleaning of the oil

spill that we're talking about it's

really um the compounding effects um on

communities uh that are reliant um on a

healthy marine environment okay thank

you Le thank you for talking to us on

aler Leah Guerrero from Green Peace

there in

Manila make sure to subscribe to our

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