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South Korea oil spill leak sealed S Korea declares slick 'disaster'
(about 2 hours later)
The holed tanker responsible for South Korea's worst-ever oil spill has finally been sealed by rescue workers. The South Korean government has declared a "state of disaster" along a stretch of coastline affected by the country's worst-ever oil spill.
Oil from the tanker has already reached South Korea's west coast, not far from a nature reserve, coast guards report. A fleet of 100 ships has been fighting to contain the 10,000-ton spill, but emergency workers have been unable to prevent the oil washing ashore.
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. Earlier the Hebei Spirit, the tanker which hit a barge and was holed causing the spill, was finally sealed.
More than 10,000 tons of oil began leaking into the sea after the 146,000-ton Hebei Spirit hit a barge. The 17km (10.6-mile) slick threatens wildlife and valuable sea farms.
'Dark brown' sea
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.
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. Coast guard, navy and fishing vessels, accompanied by six helicopters, have been trying to prevent the slick from spreading using a boom and chemical dispersants.
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 operation.
Ecological worries But they have been unable to prevent crude oil from washing onto the beaches in Taean district, 100km (60 miles) south-west of the capital Seoul.
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. They spent most of Sunday carrying buckets of pungent sludge, treating oiled birds and scrubbing blackened rocks with absorbent cloths.
In pictures: Oil spillIn pictures: Oil spill
An emergency operation was quickly launched. The BBC's John Sudworth, in Seoul, says that with their beach now coated in a 10cm layer of oil, local people fear for their livelihoods and for the long-term impact on the region's ecology, including a designated national maritime park and areas of wetland important for migrating birds.
"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 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.