An oil spill in waters near Kaohsiung has expanded farther south, with the spill covering 290km2 of ocean as of Saturday.
The spill occurred after a pipe cracked while it was connected to a tanker delivering oil to CPC Corp, Taiwan’s (CPC) Dalin refinery in Kaohsiung on Tuesday, the state-owned utility said.
The pipe was split by large waves, the utility said, apologizing and taking responsibility for the spill.
Photo: CNA
The oil slick stretches from the waters off Siaoliouciou (小琉球) to Pingtung County’s Checheng Township (車城), residents said.
They said they were worried that the oil would drift farther south and affect waters near Kenting National Park in Pingtung County’s Hengchun Township (恆春), which contains valuable coral ecosystems.
Hengchun Township Mayor Chen Wen-hung (陳文弘) and local fishers, as well as the offices of Democratic Progressive Party legislators Chou Chun-mi (周春米) and Chuang Jui-hsiung (莊瑞雄), have urged the CPC to clear the spill quickly.
While the oil slick is not as severe as one caused by the Greek cargo ship Amorgos in 2001, it has affected a wider sea area, Kenting National Park Administration deputy director Hsu Shu-kuo (許書國) said, adding that the oil might affect coral reefs near the coastline.
After the spill is cleaned up, the agency plans to commission researchers to examine underwater ecosystems, he said.
The spill contains liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, kerosene, diesel and other fuels — 10 to 15 percent is lighter substances that can evaporate in a couple of days, the Ocean Conservation Administration said.
CPC is responsible for curbing the spill, the agency said, adding that the utility as of yesterday was fined NT$1.5 million (US$53,750) in line with the Marine Pollution Control Act (海洋污染防治法).
Additional reporting by Lin Chia-nan
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS