Oil from damaged supertanker reaches SKorea's western shore
Oil from a damaged supertanker has reached South Korea's western shore, a Coast Guard official said today, deepening fears of environmental damage from the country's largest oil spill.
By Agencies |
SEOUL: Oil from a damaged supertanker has reached South Korea's western shore, a Coast Guard official said today, deepening fears of environmental damage from the country's largest oil spill.
About 7 kilometers of coastline near Mallipo beach, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul, has been affected by the oil, said Jung Se-hi, a spokesman at the Coast Guard headquarters in Incheon.
Jung said it was unclear how serious the contamination was. The region is popular for its scenic beaches and is also the site of fish farms, a national maritime park and is an important rest stop for migrating birds.
About 66,000 barrels of oil gushed yesterday from the Hong Kong-registered tanker after a crane-carrying barge slammed into it. The spill was the country's largest, involving twice as much oil as the worst previous spill in 1995.
The accident occurred about 7 miles off Mallipo beach. Strong winds and prevailing currents have spread the oil slick to an area about 2 kilometers wide and 20 kilometers in length, Jung said.
The Coast Guard plans to mobilise 103 vessels and six helicopters today in an effort to clean it up, Jung said, adding the operation was expected to take at least three days.
Chang Geun-ho, an official of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, yesterday said the extent of environmental damage would depend on the success of the containment operation, though he added that cold winter temperatures could help slow the spread of the oil slick by freezing it.
About 7 kilometers of coastline near Mallipo beach, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Seoul, has been affected by the oil, said Jung Se-hi, a spokesman at the Coast Guard headquarters in Incheon.
Jung said it was unclear how serious the contamination was. The region is popular for its scenic beaches and is also the site of fish farms, a national maritime park and is an important rest stop for migrating birds.
About 66,000 barrels of oil gushed yesterday from the Hong Kong-registered tanker after a crane-carrying barge slammed into it. The spill was the country's largest, involving twice as much oil as the worst previous spill in 1995.
The accident occurred about 7 miles off Mallipo beach. Strong winds and prevailing currents have spread the oil slick to an area about 2 kilometers wide and 20 kilometers in length, Jung said.
The Coast Guard plans to mobilise 103 vessels and six helicopters today in an effort to clean it up, Jung said, adding the operation was expected to take at least three days.
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Chang Geun-ho, an official of the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, yesterday said the extent of environmental damage would depend on the success of the containment operation, though he added that cold winter temperatures could help slow the spread of the oil slick by freezing it.
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