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| South Korea oil spill leak sealed | South Korea oil spill leak sealed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The holed tanker responsible for South Korea's worst-ever oil spill has finally been sealed by rescue workers. | The holed tanker responsible for South Korea's worst-ever oil spill has finally been sealed by rescue workers. |
| Oil from the tanker has already reached South Korea's west coast, not far from a nature reserve, coast guards report. | Oil from the tanker has already reached South Korea's west coast, not far from a nature reserve, coast guards report. |
| Emergency workers in Taean region are battling to stop the slick, now up to 20km (12 miles) long, from harming wildlife and valuable sea farms. | Emergency workers in Taean region are battling to stop the slick, now up to 20km (12 miles) long, from harming wildlife and valuable sea farms. |
| More than 10,000 tons of oil began leaking into the sea after the 146,000-ton Hebei Spirit hit a barge. | More than 10,000 tons of oil began leaking into the sea after the 146,000-ton Hebei Spirit hit a barge. |
| Local residents reported seeing the oil slick as it approached the shoreline. | Local residents reported seeing the oil slick as it approached the shoreline. |
| The oil slick is threatening local wildlife | |
| "This is not the sea we used to have. It's all dark brown. Sea waves are dark brown, the beach is scattered with greasy clumps of sand," a witness told the AFP news agency. | "This is not the sea we used to have. It's all dark brown. Sea waves are dark brown, the beach is scattered with greasy clumps of sand," a witness told the AFP news agency. |
| Dozens of coast guard vessels and six helicopters are trying to prevent the slick from spreading using a boom and chemical dispersants, but it is currently drifting in strong winds. | Dozens of coast guard vessels and six helicopters are trying to prevent the slick from spreading using a boom and chemical dispersants, but it is currently drifting in strong winds. |
| Over 6,000 people, including government workers, local residents and volunteers, are participating in the rescue operation. | Over 6,000 people, including government workers, local residents and volunteers, are participating in the rescue operation. |
| Ecological worries | Ecological worries |
| According to South Korea's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Hong Kong-registered vessel had been at anchor when it was hit by the industrial barge, which had broken free from its towing lines. | According to South Korea's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Hong Kong-registered vessel had been at anchor when it was hit by the industrial barge, which had broken free from its towing lines. |
| In pictures: Oil spill | In pictures: Oil spill |
| An emergency operation was quickly launched. | An emergency operation was quickly launched. |
| "We are worried about an ecological disaster," said Kim Jong-sik, an official with the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries. | "We are worried about an ecological disaster," said Kim Jong-sik, an official with the ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries. |
| "We have set up a boom, trying to stop oil from spreading along the coast, but oil sometimes overflows it depending on the currents," he told the French news agency AFP. | "We have set up a boom, trying to stop oil from spreading along the coast, but oil sometimes overflows it depending on the currents," he told the French news agency AFP. |
| "If we fail to contain the spread, it is feared (it will) inflict serious damage to the coast," he said. | "If we fail to contain the spread, it is feared (it will) inflict serious damage to the coast," he said. |
| The oil threatens a stretch of scenic coastline 100 km (60 miles) south-west of the capital, Seoul. | The oil threatens a stretch of scenic coastline 100 km (60 miles) south-west of the capital, Seoul. |
| The area includes a designated national maritime park and provides important wetland stopovers for migrating birds. | The area includes a designated national maritime park and provides important wetland stopovers for migrating birds. |
| South Korea's previously largest spill happened in 1995, when 5,000 tonnes of oil washed onto the country's southern coast. | South Korea's previously largest spill happened in 1995, when 5,000 tonnes of oil washed onto the country's southern coast. |