25-7-2024 (MANILA) A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off the coast of Manila on Thursday, prompting authorities to launch a massive containment effort against a rapidly spreading oil spill.
The MT Terra Nova, en route to the central city of Iloilo, found itself at the mercy of the treacherous waters of Manila Bay, succumbing to the unforgiving conditions nearly seven kilometers off Limay municipality in Bataan province, in the early hours of the morning.
Facing the daunting challenge of strong winds and high waves hampering response efforts, Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista briefed the nation on the gravity of the situation. “We were able to rescue 16 out of 17 crew, one is missing,” Bautista solemnly announced, as four of the rescued crew members received medical treatment.
A frantic search and rescue operation is currently underway for the missing crew member, with the Philippine Coast Guard leading the charge against the relentless tides.
Lumubog ang MT Terra Nova sa Manila Bay madaling araw nitong Huwebes, July 25. Karga nito ang 1.4 milyong litrong langis.
Na-rescue na ang 16 sa 17 tauhan sa barko. Samantala, tuloy-tuloy ang paghahanap ng Philippine Coast Guard sa isa pang nawawalang crew.
????: Courtesy of PCG… pic.twitter.com/wSQFyoB2hN
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 25, 2024
The coast guard’s report painted a grim picture, stating that the MT Terra Nova “capsized and eventually submerged,” leaving an ominous oil slick stretching approximately 3.7 kilometers in its wake. The slick, carried by a “strong current” in an easterly, north-easterly direction, poses a grave threat to the delicate marine ecosystem.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, marine environmental protection personnel have been mobilized to aid in containing the spill, as the coast guard investigates the possibility of an “existing weather disturbance in the vicinity waters when the maritime incident occurred.”
Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, underscoring the authorities’ commitment to unraveling the circumstances that led to this ecological disaster.
The vessel’s sinking comes on the heels of heavy rains fueled by Typhoon Carina and the seasonal monsoon, which have battered Manila and surrounding regions in recent days, adding further complexity to the already precarious situation.
The Philippines has witnessed the devastating consequences of such incidents before, with a fuel tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sinking in waters off the central island of Mindoro in February 2023.
