MANILA, Philippine: On Thursday, a Philippine-flagged tanker carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil capsized and sank off Manila, leading to a significant oil spill in Manila Bay.
The MT Terra Nova was en route to Iloilo when it went down approximately seven kilometers from Limay municipality in Bataan province. The incident occurred in the early hours amidst heavy rains caused by Typhoon Gaemi and the seasonal monsoon, which have been impacting the region.
Authorities from the Philippine Coast Guard have been mobilized to address the situation, with efforts focused on containing the extensive oil slick that has spread across several kilometers of the busy waterway. The Coast Guard is deploying floating barriers to manage the spill, but the severity of the situation has raised alarms about the potential environmental impact. Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo stated that if the entire cargo of oil were to leak, it would be the largest spill in Philippine history. The potential for the spill to affect the shoreline of Manila is significant, posing risks to local marine life and the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and tour operators dependent on these waters.
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista reported that 16 out of the 17 crew members had been rescued, while a search was ongoing for the missing crew member. The rescue efforts have been challenged by strong winds and high waves. Four crew members who were rescued are currently receiving medical treatment. The MT Terra Nova, which has sunk to a depth of 34 meters, remains partially submerged, and efforts are underway to siphon the oil from the tanker. The Coast Guard has set a target of seven days to complete this process.
The incident follows a recent major oil spill in February 2023, when a tanker carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil sank off Mindoro Island, contaminating beaches and waters along Oriental Mindoro province. That spill devastated local fishing and tourism industries. Another significant spill occurred in 2006 near Guimaras Island, which resulted in extensive environmental damage and loss of marine biodiversity.
The current spill in Manila Bay is drawing considerable concern from environmental groups and local communities. Marine environmental protection teams have been deployed to mitigate the damage and prevent further environmental degradation. The situation remains fluid as response teams continue to tackle the spill and assess the full extent of the impact on the region’s marine ecosystem and local economies.
