Oil that has washed ashore on several southern Japanese islands is likely from an Iranian tanker that sank in the East China Sea last month, Japan’s coast guard said Friday. Analysis of samples of heavy fuel that began washing up on remote Okinoerabu and Yoron islands this month found
Oil that has washed ashore on several southern Japanese islands is likely from an Iranian tanker that sank in the East China Sea last month, Japan’s coast guard said Friday.
Analysis of samples of heavy fuel that began washing up on remote Okinoerabu and Yoron islands this month found similar components to the fuel used by the Sanchi tanker, coast guard spokesman Takuya Matsumoto said.
„We are not aware of any other maritime accident in the region that resulted in oil leaks,“ he told AFP.
„So we have concluded that it is highly likely that the oil that reached (the two islands) is connected with Sanchi,“ he said.
The sunken ship — carrying 111,000 tons of light crude oil — went down in a ball of flames on January 14 in Japan’s economic waters in the East China Sea, sparking concerns it could lead to a massive environmental catastrophe.
Late January, greasy sludge began to wash up on remote Japanese islands, known for seafood and pristine shores that lure holidaymakers.
