More than 400 people in a coastal village of central Philippines were evacuated after about 250,000 litres of bunker fuel spilled from a power-generating barge into the sea (Illustrative photo: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – More than 400 peoplein a coastal village of central Philippines were evacuated after about 250,000litres of bunker fuel spilled from a power-generating barge into the sea.
The cleansing of the waters and thecoastline is underway. However, the stench was so bad that people had to moveaway to two schools, Mayor of Iloilo City Jerry Trenas said, adding that therewas a request for a third evacuation site on July 5.
He noted that the incident has not affectedpower supply to the commercial city of about half a million people because ithas other power sources.
The spill began on July 3 when anaccidental explosion on the barge blasted a hole in its hull. There were noreported injuries.
The Philippine coast guard areinvestigating the case.
In August 2013, half a million litres ofdiesel fuel leaked into Manila Bay, which affected over 30 villages in Cavite province,hurting the country’s fishing industry and posing potential health andenvironmental hazards./.
