Philippines locates sunken oil tanker

An image of the sunken MT Princess Empress provided by the Philippine Coast Guard on March 21 (Source: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – MT Princess Empress, an oil tanker that sank off Oriental Mindoro province of the Philippines three weeks ago and is spilling toxic oil into the sea, has been spotted by a remotely operated vehicle.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on March 21 that the exact location is 7.7 nautical miles from Balingawan Point, Naujan town in Oriental Mindoro province.

The PCG will issue a detailed report on the sunken vessel's status in a few days to map out their next move to contain the leak, it noted.

The MT Princess Empress encountered engine trouble and sank on February 28 when it was carrying 800,000 litres of industrial oil from Bataan province to Iloilo province, causing a widespread oil spill off Oriental Mindoro and neighbouring provinces.

The Philippines’ Presidential Communication Office said the oil spill affected nearly 33,000 families.

Meanwhile, Maria Rosario Vergeire, an official of the Health Department, said at least 191 people have fallen ill, experiencing respiratory symptoms, dizziness, stomach aches, and itchy skin or dermatological signs and symptoms./. 

VNA