CARRASCAL, Surigao del Sur — A landing craft tank submerged off the coast of Carrascal on Tuesday after being battered by strong winds and rough seas, triggering an oil spill in the area, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In an official statement, the PCG reported the incident:
“At around 5:22 a.m., the PCG received a phone call from the vessel’s captain reporting that LCT 8 had submerged, resulting in an oil spill.”
Authorities confirmed that all 17 crew members, including the captain, survived the maritime incident unscathed.
“All 17 crew members on board, including the captain, were in good physical condition,” the PCG added.
Environmental Response and Cleanup
Initial assessments revealed that approximately 800 liters of oil leaked from the sunken vessel, contaminating an estimated 200-meter stretch of the local shoreline.
To mitigate environmental damage, Coast Guard personnel swiftly deployed oil spill containment booms and absorbent pads. Initial response operations successfully recovered around 460 liters of an oily water mixture.
Cleanup efforts intensified on Wednesday, with responders collecting an additional 170 liters of oily waste alongside 390 kilograms of oil-contaminated debris.
Ongoing Monitoring and Investigation
The PCG continues to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of the affected coastal waters to evaluate environmental impacts and plan subsequent containment measures.
Meanwhile, a formal marine casualty investigation has been launched to establish the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the sinking of LCT 8.