132,000 gallons of oil spilled in Manila Bay

Philippine authorities ban fishing as oil spreads

Published August 9, 2013 4:17PM (EDT)

  (Official U.S. Navy Imagery/Flickr)
(Official U.S. Navy Imagery/Flickr)

A large amount of diesel fuel has leaked from an underwater pipe in Manila Bay, the AP reports.

The coast guard said Friday that about 500,000 liters (132,000 gallons) of diesel fuel formed a red slick stretching some 300 square kilometers (116 square miles) near four coastal towns in Cavite province.

The mayor of Rosario town said he declared a state of calamity to speed up assistance to fishermen and their families.
...
Petron Corp., owner of the diesel that spilled, says it is cooperating with authorities but did not acknowledge any wrongdoing.

Philippine authorities have banned fishing and deployed booms to contain the oil, which the national disaster agency says has spread 1.7 miles from shore.


By Lindsay Abrams

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Diesel Fishing Manila Oil Spill Philippines