PHILIPPINES Mindoro, recovered the sunken oil tanker. 36,000 hectares of coral reefs are in danger

The accident occurred three weeks ago and caused a serious environmental disaster. There are three provinces of the island affected, where fishing and bathing activities have been suspended. The recovery operation was possible thanks to the use of machinery of Japanese origin. The ecosystem could take years to recover.

Manila () – After three weeks, the oil tanker MT Princess Empire has been recovered, which sank off the island of Mindoro and whose fuel spillage reached the coasts of three Philippine provinces.

The ship was carrying some 800,000 liters of oil when it capsized and sank on February 28. Thanks to the use of Japanese machinery, the ship was able to be recovered, a crucial operation to stop the spill of fuel into the waters. The governor of Oriental Mindoro, Humerlito Dolor, explained at a press conference that it was urgent to seal the leaks and extract all the remaining oil from the ship. Following the incident, local authorities imposed a ban on fishing and bathing in the affected areas, disrupting tourist activities.

According to experts, some 36,000 hectares of coral reefs could be damaged by the sinking of the ship. In addition to Oriental Mindoro province, Palawan and Antique provinces were also affected by the fuel spill. Environmentalists have insisted on the need to contain the oil slick as soon as possible, because the fuel initially remains in the surface layer and then sinks, but it quickly disperses, contaminating the seabed, corals and mangroves, and making it difficult for them to spread. recovery.

Divius de Jesus is a specialist on the subject and collaborator of the Oceana organization. He explained that the fish and other marine life that fishermen catch could also be affected, which could have economic repercussions. The island of Mindoro is also a rapidly growing major tourist center. In 2021, the eastern province alone welcomed more than 70,000 domestic and foreign tourists.

Greenpeace activist Jefferson Chua spoke with rapper and recounted his experience with the Guimaras oil leak: after the incident, the sale of various fishery products was prohibited. He took years to restore the waters to a safe level and restore the marine ecosystem.

According to a report published a week ago by the National Catastrophe Containment and Management Council, at least 145,223 people, 13 marine protected areas and more than 60 tourist attractions were affected by the oil spill.

Japan has also sent a team from its coast guard to help the Philippines clean up the waters. For its part, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will work closely with the Philippines to carry out environmental investigations and assessments, according to the US Embassy in Manila.