Oil spill in Philippines

A Philippine-flagged vessel the MT Terra Nova carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel sank in rough seas off the Bataan province in the Philippines on 25 July, causing the death of a crew member.

Resources cannot be dispatched because of strong winds and high waves but an aerial survey by the coast guard has shown an oil slick spreading roughly two nautical miles and being driven by strong waves.

Officials are concerned, the waters where the ship sank are close to Manila and there is real danger the spill could reach the capital.

In 2023, oil tanker Princess Empress was carrying about 800,000 litres of industrial fuel when it capsized on 28 February and eventually sank, causing an oil spill that took three months to clean up.