Environment

China: Oil Spill Covers 165 Square Miles So Far

by Jordan Yerman | July 21, 2010 at 09:12 am

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China: Dalian Oil Spill Spreads in Yellow Sea

An oil spill in the Yellow Sea off the coast of Dalian, China, has spread to over 165 square miles. The spill was caused by two pipeline explosions on July 16, and one person has already been killed by drowning in the oil. The port at Dalian is not closed, and container operations were returned to normal as of July 20. Beaches in the area are closed.

So far, workers are using oil-eating bacteria and skimmers to clear the oil, which is up to 20cm thick on the surface in some areas. Greenpeace China is calling it the worst oil spill in China's recent history.

Photos: China Oil Spill

The disaster began Friday in the port city of Dalian when an oil pipeline exploded. Crude oil leaked into the Yellow Sea, then burned in a huge firestorm for 15 hours. Dalian is China's second biggest oil import port.

Dalian was once named China’s most liveable city but today the beaches are closed as workers continue to clean up the mess. Environmental activists said it was too soon to tell what impact the oil spill would have on marine life.

The clean up process has already begun, with booms, skimmers, and dispersants, which themselves are hazardous chemicals whose harmful effects have not yet been fully studied.

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webmasterstudio

at 12:17 on July 22nd, 2010

Oil spillage is the one of the diaster to the aquatic animals and environment . The companies oil extracting should take prevantive measures for the spillage rather than paying 20 billion dollors after the diasters.