A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of crude oil capsized and sank off Manila today, authorities said, as they tried to contain a threatened spill of its cargo.
“We managed to rescue 16 of the 17 crew members, one is missing,” Transport Minister Jaime Bautista said during a press conference.
Strong winds and high waves are hampering rescue operations, he added.
The shipwreck occurred this morning, about seven kilometers from Limay, in front of the capital, in Manila Bay.
TANKER IN MANILA BAY
The MT Terra Nova, which was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil, sank in Manila Bay, nearly seven kilometers from Limay municipality in Bataan province, near the capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
To read: https://t.co/cf0xY76TF0 pic.twitter.com/eyoaD3lUeA
-Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) July 25, 2024
An oil spill has been detected
The ship, named Terra Nova, “capsized” and ended up “sinking,” the Philippine Coast Guard said. The same source said an investigation is underway to determine whether weather conditions played a role.
An oil spill has been detected and marine protection officers are being mobilized to contain it, according to Transport Minister Bautista.
But “at this moment we cannot send” crews because of “strong winds and high waves”, he insisted.
Source: APE – MEB