Oil Spill Threatens Wildlife off Coast of Galicia

A tanker carrying 77,000 tonnes of fuel oil broke in two pieces off Spain and sank in the Atlantic, triggering what environmental activists said could become one of the world`s worst environmental disasters.

The Prestige, a 26-year-old tanker of 42,000 ton class, started leaking after being ruptured in a storm about 250 km off the coast of Galicia in Spain on Nov. 14, spilling 10,000 tons of oil as it sank in 3.5km of water.

The fuel oil from the stricken vessel continues blackening beaches and killing wildlife, including seabirds, crabs and many sea animals, along a 200km stretch of the scenic shores of Galicia, which is famous for scenic nature and a variety of wild inhabitants.

The Prestige was carrying twice as much fuel than the Exxon Valdez which ran aground in Alaska in 1989, and could create the world`s worst oil spill if it leaks all of its oil.

Fuel oil used for power ship engines and electricity plants is more poisonous and harder to clean up than crude oil. Crude oil disperses in sea water, but fuel oil turns to sticky lumps.

Rescuers are pinning hopes on that the broken tanker ship might solidify in the deep frigid water before causing a devastating destruction throughout the region.

“Oil kept inside the sunken tanker will continue to leak out, threatening lives of fish, coral and other sea creatures,” environmentalists warned. “It would trigger the worst environmental disasters in decades.”

Neighboring France and Portugal were rushing to take safety measures to prevent the spilled oil from spreading into their waters.

Hye-Yoon Park parkhyey@donga.com