The Philippines is dealing with an oil spill caused by the sinking of a tanker loaded with 800,000 liters of oil off the central island of Mindoro. The spill has spread over hundreds of kilometers of waters home to some of the most diverse marine life in the world, with two main slicks estimated to span 162 square kilometers. Fishing and swimming have been banned indefinitely, leaving thousands of fishermen wondering how long they can survive. At least 5,000 hectares of coral reefs, seaweed and mangroves have been affected and it will take at least six months to clean up the spill, but the recovery could take years. The owner of the tanker has said anyone affected can seek compensation. Several countries, including Japan, South Korea and the US, are helping the Philippines respond to the disaster, which has also affected the Verde Island Passage, called the “Amazon of the Seas” because of its rich marine life.
