BFAR: No fish kill reported as Ilocos oil spill contained

Responders deploy oil spill booms and absorbent materials around the grounded cargo vessel LCT MSCI 1 off Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa, Badoc, Ilocos Norte, to prevent the spread of leaked oil. Authorities continue monitoring the area while salvage operations await favorable weather conditions. (Photo courtesy of Badoc Police Station)

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) continues to monitor coastal areas affected by an oil spill caused by the grounding and eventual sinking of a cargo vessel off Ilocos Norte, as authorities assess its impact on fisheries and the livelihoods of local fisherfolk.

BFAR reported that an estimated three to five drums of an oil mixture leaked from the vessel, affecting an area within a 15-meter radius. The spill was immediately contained through the deployment of oil spill booms and absorbent pads by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other responding agencies.

The cargo vessel LCT MSCI 1 ran aground in the coastal waters of Barangay La Virgen Milagrosa in Badoc, Ilocos Norte on Sunday and eventually sank on Thursday.

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