MANILA – A tanker carrying nearly 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel capsized and sank off the coast of Manila on Thursday, leading to a significant oil spill, officials have reported.
The Philippine-flagged MT Terra Nova, en route to Iloilo, encountered adverse weather conditions exacerbated by Typhoon Gaemi, which had intensified seasonal monsoon rains and caused widespread flooding in Metro Manila and surrounding areas. Sixteen of the crew members were rescued, but one remains missing, according to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
An oil spill has been detected, but efforts to manage the situation are being hampered by strong winds and high waves. The Philippine Coast Guard is urgently working to contain the spill, with concerns that if the entire cargo leaks, it could become the largest oil spill in Philippine history.
Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, a spokesperson for the coast guard, warned of potential impacts on Manila Bay, which is a busy shipping area with commercial, recreational, and fishing activities. “There is a significant risk that the shoreline of Manila could be affected if the fuel leaks,” Balilo stated.
The MT Terra Nova sank after capsizing, creating an oil spill stretching several kilometres. This incident follows a similar disaster in March 2023, when an oil tanker carrying 800,000 litres of industrial fuel sank off Oriental Mindoro province, affecting nearby coastal villages and causing health issues among residents and cleanup workers.
In a prior incident in 2006, an oil tanker with around two million litres of oil sank off Guimaras Island, though only one of its ten compartments leaked.
The coast guard continues to assess the situation and deploy resources to mitigate the environmental impact of the spill.
