Asia/Pacific News
MV Thermopylae Sierra Spill is Contained
A 10 kilometre long oil spill which reached the shores of Colombo, Sri Lanka following the August 23, 2012 sinking of the MV Thermopylae Sierra has been "contained," Sri Lankan authorities declared on Sunday.
"We have contained the remaining oil slick and chemicals are being used to get rid of it," Coast Conservation Department chief Anil Premarathne told AFP.
The Cyprus flagged Bulk Carrier sank "very close" to the shores of Panadura, Sri Lanka with Jagath Gunasekera of the Marine Environment Protection Authority saying there was "less than 75 tonnes" of oil onboard the vessel following the removal of most of the oil prior to its sinking.
"The environmental damage is much less than what was initially feared," Disaster Management Centre (DMC) director Sarath Kumara told AFP.
"The worst is over and the leaks from the sunken ship have stopped," they added, with Premarathne saying they "would remain vigilant for a few days more."
Oil was reported to have hit the shores of Colombo on Saturday with Sri Lanka's DMC saying volunteers had cleaned up thin layers of oil in several places on Saturday.
The vessel has been detained in Sri Lankan waters by court order since a 2009 dispute involving its crew and cargo valued in local media reports at over $300 million.
