POLA, Philippines—Residents of a central Philippine province affected by an oil spill from a sunken tanker endured the powerful stench of petroleum as they cleaned it up using buckets and mugs while authorities raced to contain environmental damage.
Wearing personal protective equipment and masks, residents of the town of Pola in Oriental Mindoro, with the help of the Philippine coast guard crew, collected debris soaked in oil and wiped thick sludge from rocks along the shore.
“Here in our area the oil is really thick and the smell is strong,” said 34-year-old resident Maribel Famadico while cleaning along the shore with other volunteers….