This Week Will See The Largest Impact In Calapan Due To The Sunken Vessel’s Continuing Oil Spill
The University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute has stated that with stronger coastal currents this week, the oil spill from the sunken MT Princess Empress is expected to concentrate near Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro.
This means that seagrasses, corals and the livelihoods of locals could be affected; any fish caught in the area may also not be fit for consumption.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s situational report published on Sunday, 149,503 individuals have been affected by the incident, mainly from the MIMAROPA region and 30,226 from Western Visayas.
189 people have reported symptoms such as abdominal pain, dizziness, breathing difficulties and skin rashes. Additionally, 13,654 farmers and fisherfolks have suffered losses due to an estimated production cost damage worth around P3.850 million.
Source: Philstar Global, Inquirer
