Tanker Carrying 1,500 Tonnes of Oil Sinks Off the Philippines

On Thursday, a tanker carrying nearly 1.5 million liters of industrial fuel capsized and sank off the coast of the Philippine capital, Manila, resulting in a significant oil spill, according to officials. The Philippine-flagged vessel, MT Terra Nova, was en route to the central city of Iloilo when the incident occurred.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista reported that 16 of the 17 crew members were rescued, with one still missing. The Philippine Coast Guard is actively involved in the response efforts, but strong winds and high waves have complicated their efforts to contain the spill. The spill has stretched several kilometers, posing a severe risk to the environment and potentially affecting the shores of Manila Bay.

The timing of the incident is particularly concerning as it follows Typhoon Gaemi, which intensified seasonal monsoon rains and caused widespread flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. The typhoon, which has since made landfall in Taiwan, has claimed three lives and injured hundreds more.

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The sinking of the MT Terra Nova has raised alarms about the potential environmental impact. Rear Admiral Armando Balilo of the Philippine Coast Guard indicated that if all the fuel from the tanker were to leak, it could become the largest oil spill in the country’s history. Manila Bay, where the tanker went down, is a critical area hosting busy shipping lanes, shopping malls, casino resorts, and fishing communities.

This incident echoes previous oil spill disasters in the Philippines. In March 2023, an oil tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel sank off the coast of Oriental Mindoro, leading to severe contamination of nearby fishing villages. Coastal residents reported health issues such as cramps, vomiting, and dizziness. Another major spill occurred nearly two decades ago when a tanker carrying about two million liters of oil sank off Guimaras island, with only one compartment leaking oil.

The current situation underscores the urgent need for effective spill response measures and preparedness to prevent long-term environmental damage and safeguard local communities.

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