La Union coal spill worsens

SAN FERNANDO , La Union – The coal spill in a 75-hectare marine protected area here worsened after big waves and strong winds triggered by a storm surge the other day pushed further the ill-fated Indonesian barge to the shoreline.

The Nava Ratna 3 barge, where the spilled coal came from, has been left unattended for two days due to bad weather, thus further causing damage to the corals.  

Task Force Nava Ratna 3 headed by Coast Guard Capt. Joel Garcia failed to retrieve the barge and transfer its remaining cargo for lack of equipment before typhoon “Mina” battered Northern Luzon.

Garcia told the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council that they could not also initiate an underwater inspection since it was dangerous for the divers.  

Mayor Pablo Ortega said the bad weather has damaged the barge, thus further harming the fish sanctuary.

He said they are now planning to seek assistance from the national government to remove the barge, which spilled part of its coal cargo as it ran aground off Barangay Lingsat here. 

Ortega said the city environment office will assess the extent of the coal spill’s damage as soon as the clean-up and retrieval operation resumes.