Robert Besser
23 Mar 2023, 16:21 GMT+10
MANILA, Philippines: An underwater robot from Japan has located a leaking fuel tanker, MT Princess Empress, which sank off the central Philippines three weeks ago.
The discovery of the tanker, carrying about 211,338 gallons of industrial fuel oil when it capsized on Feb. 28 and eventually sank, was deemed crucial in stopping the spill, which has reached shorelines in three provinces.
Plugging the leaks and extracting any remaining oil from the tanker was urgent, said Oriental Mindoro Governor Humerlito Dolor during a media briefing.
With the help of a remotely-operated vehicle that arrived from Japan, Dolor shared the first photos of the Philippine-flagged vessel from its exact location.
The robot will also help determine the tanker's condition, he said.
About 88,958 acres of coral reef, mangroves and sea-grass could be affected by the oil slick, according to Filipino marine scientists.
Japan has also sent a team of coast guard personnel to help in the clean up, according to the Philippines' disaster agency, while five U.S. coast guard personnel have arrived to assist with the spill response, the U.S. embassy said.
Get a daily dose of Seattle Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Seattle Bulletin.
More InformationTRIPOLI, Libya: Italy and Libya resumed commercial flights for the first time in ten years on September 30, with flight ...
SAINT GEORGE, Maine: A fire destroyed several waterfront buildings in Maine on September 29, including an art gallery with several ...
JAKARTA, Indonesia - According to Asian diplomats and the Philippines' president, Southeast Asian leaders have decided that Myanmar will not ...
NEW LONDON, Connecticut: Video footage taken deep in the Pacific Ocean provided the first detailed view of three World War ...
CUSTER STATE PARK, South Dakota: As part of an annual effort to maintain the health of the species, which has ...
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan: Uzbek authorities said a powerful explosion on September 28 at a warehouse near Tashkent's airport killed one person ...
FRANKFURT, Germany: Inflation in the eurozone hit a two-year low in September, signaling that the European Central Bank's (ECB) strategy ...
BEIJING, China: Official statistics released on the weekend showed that in September, Chinese factory activity expanded for the first time ...
NEW YORK, New York - The Nasdaq defied a general sell-off on U.S. equity markets Monday, as the new quarter ...
NEW YORK, New York - The U.S. dollar jumped sharply on Monday, extending its recent months-long rally.The euro crumbled to ...
CHICAGO, Illinois: On September 29, the union representing United Airlines' pilots said its members had ratified a new four-year contract, ...
SHANGHAI, China: Chinese officials report that 100 million people are traveling daily during the ongoing Golden Week holiday. Three times ...