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MSC Zoe: Islands hit as 270 containers fall off ship | MSC Zoe: Islands hit as 270 containers fall off ship |
(35 minutes later) | |
Extensive debris has washed up on islands off the Dutch north coast after some 270 containers including chemicals fell off a cargo ship in a storm. | Extensive debris has washed up on islands off the Dutch north coast after some 270 containers including chemicals fell off a cargo ship in a storm. |
As the extent of pollution became clear on five islands including Terschelling, coastguards searched the North Sea for missing containers. | As the extent of pollution became clear on five islands including Terschelling, coastguards searched the North Sea for missing containers. |
The cargo fell off the MSC Zoe near the German island of Borkum, but the tide carried many of them to the south-west. | The cargo fell off the MSC Zoe near the German island of Borkum, but the tide carried many of them to the south-west. |
Initial images showed children's toys and TVs on Dutch beaches. | Initial images showed children's toys and TVs on Dutch beaches. |
But officials said three missing containers carried a toxic powder of organic peroxide, and Dutch and German coastguards warned local people to steer clear of them. | But officials said three missing containers carried a toxic powder of organic peroxide, and Dutch and German coastguards warned local people to steer clear of them. |
One bag containing 25kg of peroxide powder was found on the island of Schiermonnikoog on Thursday, along with several containers and their contents. | |
What happened to the MSC Zoe? | What happened to the MSC Zoe? |
The Panama-registered ship is described as the biggest in Europe, with a potential cargo of 19,000 containers. | The Panama-registered ship is described as the biggest in Europe, with a potential cargo of 19,000 containers. |
As Storm Zeetje buffeted northern Germany with gale force winds late on Tuesday night, 270 containers of Zoe's cargo fell off the ship and into the Wadden Sea. | As Storm Zeetje buffeted northern Germany with gale force winds late on Tuesday night, 270 containers of Zoe's cargo fell off the ship and into the Wadden Sea. |
By Wednesday morning, strong tides had already swept some of the containers on to beaches on Terschelling, Vlieland and Ameland and coastguards were scouring the sea for the others. | By Wednesday morning, strong tides had already swept some of the containers on to beaches on Terschelling, Vlieland and Ameland and coastguards were scouring the sea for the others. |
There were fears that other shipping could be damaged by the cargo. The Geneva-based MSC company which owns the ship has asked a salvage company to use sonar equipment to help retrieve the missing containers. | There were fears that other shipping could be damaged by the cargo. The Geneva-based MSC company which owns the ship has asked a salvage company to use sonar equipment to help retrieve the missing containers. |
Overnight into Thursday, the MSC Zoe docked at Bremerhaven. Several containers were spotted in German waters and a further 11 were seen by the Dutch coastguard floating between the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. | Overnight into Thursday, the MSC Zoe docked at Bremerhaven. Several containers were spotted in German waters and a further 11 were seen by the Dutch coastguard floating between the islands of Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. |
How bad is the pollution? | How bad is the pollution? |
By Thursday five Dutch islands in the Wadden Sea had seen debris from the MSC Zoe wash up on its beaches. | By Thursday five Dutch islands in the Wadden Sea had seen debris from the MSC Zoe wash up on its beaches. |
On Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog volunteers were helping on Thursday to clear up the mess spilt the previous day. | On Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog volunteers were helping on Thursday to clear up the mess spilt the previous day. |
Among the rubbish found on Terschelling's long, sandy beaches were shoes, bags, cushions, chairs and plastic cups. Children found pink toys among the rubbish. | Among the rubbish found on Terschelling's long, sandy beaches were shoes, bags, cushions, chairs and plastic cups. Children found pink toys among the rubbish. |
Volunteers had to scoop polystyrene packaging from the dunes. | Volunteers had to scoop polystyrene packaging from the dunes. |
Further to the east, on Schiermonnikoog, a trail of plastic rubbish, shoes and light bulbs was found on the beaches. "This is truly a disaster. How are we going to clean this up?" said local environmentalist Cynthia Borras. "We were prepared for an oil disaster but not this." | Further to the east, on Schiermonnikoog, a trail of plastic rubbish, shoes and light bulbs was found on the beaches. "This is truly a disaster. How are we going to clean this up?" said local environmentalist Cynthia Borras. "We were prepared for an oil disaster but not this." |
Terschelling mayor Bert Wassink feared the clean-up could take a long time. | Terschelling mayor Bert Wassink feared the clean-up could take a long time. |
"We've never seen this before. It's becoming more common to see containers falling in the water but never before on this scale," he told public broadcaster NOS. | "We've never seen this before. It's becoming more common to see containers falling in the water but never before on this scale," he told public broadcaster NOS. |
When the MSC Napoli ran aground off the south-west coast of England in 2007, 80 containers washed ashore. Police had to shut a local beach as people scoured the debris for motorbikes and other merchandise. | When the MSC Napoli ran aground off the south-west coast of England in 2007, 80 containers washed ashore. Police had to shut a local beach as people scoured the debris for motorbikes and other merchandise. |
Police had to use old laws on scavenging that require people to return goods from the stricken ship. | Police had to use old laws on scavenging that require people to return goods from the stricken ship. |
Although some flat screen TVs were found in the debris on Wednesday, most concerns on the Dutch islands focused on the environmental damage to the area. | Although some flat screen TVs were found in the debris on Wednesday, most concerns on the Dutch islands focused on the environmental damage to the area. |