By Gabriela Baron
Experts from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI) reported that the oil spill from the sunken ship in Oriental Mindoro is expected to reach the shorelines of Calapan in three days.
Based on UPMSI’s latest satellite image, it reported that “the oil is still leaking out” of the sunken MT Princess Empress.
“Oil spill trajectories for March 16 [to] 22 show a northward shift with Calapan possibly receiving most of the oil from March 20 [to] 22,” UPMSI said.
“Westward currents along the coast of northern Mindoro towards the Verde Island Passage are forecasted to be more pronounced for this period,” it added.
UPMSI said the “amihan” winds, which allowed most of the oil to the coasts of Naujan and Pola in Oriental Mindoro “are now more variable, allowing the oil to spread northwards.”
UPMSI stressed that it is “critical” to stop the seepage before the end of the “amihan” season, otherwise “more critical biodiversity areas” along the Verde Island Passage may be affected.
MT Princess Empress was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial oil before it capsized in the waters of Naujan, Oriental Mindoro on Feb. 28.
The oil also reached the shorelines of at least nine municipalities in Oriental Mindoro as well as some parts of Occidental Mindoro, Antique, and Palawan. – cf