A SHIP undergoing repairs in a Balamban town shipyard caught fire and triggered an oil spill that covered the waters of five coastal barangays, including that of neighboring Toledo City, since Saturday morning.

FO1 Ben Diotay, Balamban fire investigator, said a car transport ship of Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu Inc. caught fire past 10 p.m. last Friday.

It took firemen until 3 a.m. the next day to extinguish the blaze.

Three hours later, Barangay Sto Nino, Toledo City fishermen noticed thick oil spreading in their waters.

Barangay Sto. Nino straddles the border between Toledo and Balamban.

Leak

Diotay said the ship might have leaked as a result of the fire, which started in the vessel’s engine room.

Tsuneishi could not be reached for comment as of press time.

A dyAB report quoted Sto. Niño Barangay Captain Haile Baron as saying the spill has spread out over a 150-meter radius.

Oil has reportedly reached the beach near the city cemetery and a private resort in Barangay Matab-ang, Toledo.

Baron feared that marine life in 11 coastal barangays is in danger if the oil isn’t quickly isolated.

But Dario Surig, Toledo Bantay Dagat project director, told Sun.Star in long distance interview that crude oil released from the ship already dissipated to the shores of Sto. Niño and Matab-ang.

All clear

At 4 p.m. yesterday, he said, the two barangays’ waters were already clear of the spill.

Surig said Tsuneishi also dispatched a tugboat, a speedboat, some personnel and oil spill containment equipment to stop the oil from spreading further.

“The sea is okay now. All efforts are on the beaches. Tsuneishi personnel and fisherfolks are helping clear crude oil from the two barangays,” Surig said.

Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay said the spill affected Barangays Buanoy and Arpili, but the problem was quickly taken care of by Tsuneishi and local fishermen.

Arpili’s mangroves, though, were reportedly damaged.

In a separate interview, Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo said she directed the Bantay Dagat to investigate and help in containing the spill.

“From the information I got, the situation was worsening because dead fish have begun floating in our seas,” she said.

Surig said they were in need of more sacks for the clean-up.