The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) rang its alarm bells when it discovered thick oil at the ground zero where tanker MTKR Terranova sank off Bataan nearly a month ago. It has been 26 days since MTKR Terranova submerged on July 25 due to bad weather and the situation appeared to be generally under control. That was until around 7:30 p.m. of Aug. 19 when divers monitored the presence of thick oil off the coast of Limay town where MTKR Terranova sank. “The presence of thick oil in the vicinity waters does not necessarily mean that there was a punctured cargo oil tank (COT).

Sadongdong, M. (2024, August 21). Bataan oil spill: Thick oil emerges at MT Terranova ground zero. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 7.