Bangkok, July 25 (EFE).- A Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized in Manila Bay on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
The coast guard said that it responded to “a maritime incident involving Philippine-flagged Motor Tanker (MT) Terra Nova that capsized and eventually submerged 3.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point, Limay, Bataan, at around 1:10 am.”
The agency’s chief, Rear iral Armando Balilo, said that 16 of the 17 crew on board had been rescued, of which four are receiving further medical attention.
A search for the missing crew member was ongoing.
“Marine environmental protection personnel have also been mobilized to combat the oil spill,” 5.6 nautical miles east off Lamao Point with an estimated coverage (length) of two nautical miles carried by strong current heading east to northeast,” the coast guard said.
“The Coast Guard Aviation Command also performs an aerial survey as part of the ongoing oil spill response operations,” it added.
Coast Guard Commandant iral Ronnie Gavan has ordered an investigation into the incident. EFE
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