« Oil-like » blobs are washing up on the beaches of several southern Japanese islands, officials said Friday, raising fears they could be from a tanker that sank in the area nearly three weeks ago. The Iranian tanker Sanchi — carrying 111,000 tons of light crude oil — went under in a…
« Oil-like » blobs are washing up on the beaches of several southern Japanese islands, officials said Friday, raising fears they could be from a tanker that sank in the area nearly three weeks ago.
The Iranian tanker Sanchi — carrying 111,000 tons of light crude oil — went under in a ball of flames on Jan 14 in Japan’s economic waters in the East China Sea, sparking concerns it could lead to a massive environmental catastrophe.
Japan’s government is analysing the origin of the « oil-like » substance, and has dispatched the coast guard to help with clean-up, top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said.
Local officials have reported the substance washing up along a seven-kilometer stretch of the island of Takarajima in recent days.
« It is still uncertain whether this is related to the Sanchi. We are currently collecting and analysing samples, » Suga told a regular briefing in Tokyo.
« We are taking measures to contain (contamination) and dispatching patrol vessels and planes while working closely together with China and other nations.
