This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-30448377
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
India on alert after Sunderbans oil spill in Bangladesh | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Environmental authorities in India are on alert after thousands of litres of oil spilled into a nature reserve in neighbouring Bangladesh. | |
Conservation chief Pradeep Vyas said "precautions" were being taken in West Bengal's coastal region. | |
Oil leaked into waterways in the Sundarbans area after a collision involving a tanker three days ago. | |
Officials say it is already harming the region's wildlife, which includes two endangered dolphin species. | |
"We are taking all precautionary measures," Mr Vyas, additional director of India's Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, told Reuters on Friday. | |
Footage shows Bangladeshi villagers scooping oil from rivers using pots and pans and sponges, and birds covered in black liquid in the Sundarbans mangrove forest in south-west Bangladesh. | |
The oil spilled after a tanker carrying 350,000 litres (77,000 gallons) collided with another vessel, spreading a sheen across 60km of waterways. | The oil spilled after a tanker carrying 350,000 litres (77,000 gallons) collided with another vessel, spreading a sheen across 60km of waterways. |
The Sunderbans is a Unesco heritage site, home to many rare species. | The Sunderbans is a Unesco heritage site, home to many rare species. |
The oil leaked into the river at a sanctuary for rare dolphins. | The oil leaked into the river at a sanctuary for rare dolphins. |
Environmentalists have expressed concern that the impact on wildlife could be disastrous. | Environmentalists have expressed concern that the impact on wildlife could be disastrous. |
But government officials say they still cannot give an assessment of the likely damage. | But government officials say they still cannot give an assessment of the likely damage. |
The UN on Thursday called for a complete ban on all commercial vessels using the waterways of the Sunderbans. | The UN on Thursday called for a complete ban on all commercial vessels using the waterways of the Sunderbans. |
The Bangladeshi navy initially sent four ships to deal with the spill, and planned to use chemicals to disperse the oil. | The Bangladeshi navy initially sent four ships to deal with the spill, and planned to use chemicals to disperse the oil. |
But it was unclear whether the chemicals could be used, amid fears they could cause further damage. | But it was unclear whether the chemicals could be used, amid fears they could cause further damage. |
"This catastrophe is unprecedented in the Sundarbans and we don't know how to tackle this," Amir Hosain, chief forest official of the Sundarbans, told AFP news agency. | "This catastrophe is unprecedented in the Sundarbans and we don't know how to tackle this," Amir Hosain, chief forest official of the Sundarbans, told AFP news agency. |
"We're worried about its long-term impact, because it happened in a fragile and sensitive mangrove ecosystem." | "We're worried about its long-term impact, because it happened in a fragile and sensitive mangrove ecosystem." |
The tanker was reportedly on its way to deliver the oil to a power plant in Gopalganj when it was struck by another vessel. | The tanker was reportedly on its way to deliver the oil to a power plant in Gopalganj when it was struck by another vessel. |
The Sunderbans, a Unesco world heritage site, is a vast river delta on the northern shore of the Bay of Bengal. | The Sunderbans, a Unesco world heritage site, is a vast river delta on the northern shore of the Bay of Bengal. |
Its mangroves and rivers are home to a vast array of plant and animal life, much of it unique to the region. | Its mangroves and rivers are home to a vast array of plant and animal life, much of it unique to the region. |
The government declared areas in the southern Sunderbans to be a dolphin sanctuary in 2011, after research suggested some 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins lived in the area. | The government declared areas in the southern Sunderbans to be a dolphin sanctuary in 2011, after research suggested some 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins lived in the area. |
Previous version
1
Next version