On August 6, ten beaches were reportedly closed for public due to palm oil spill caused by two ships colliding with each other.
What happened?
The leakage was caused by the crash between two cargo vessels near the Pearl River estuary in southern China on Thursday, the marine department confirmed.
Beaches covered with oil and rubbish:
The beaches were lined with styrofoam-like clumps, and the waters at a nearby fishing village was covered in oil and rubbish.
In recent times, Hong Kong has been increasingly plagued by pollution and rubbish gathering on its shores. It is widely affecting the economy since Hong Kong is famous for its 200 plus beaches.
Warning issued in 10 beaches:
The Hong Kong government closed its 6 beaches and hoisted warning flags to alerted the public. This measure was taken after they noticed “white, oily substances” on the waters and sands off southern Hong Kong’s outlying islands on Sunday morning.
Four additional beaches on the southern coast of the main Hong Kong Island were shut when beach staffers found “white, granular substances” on them, the statement added.
Despite the rise of debris on beaches, washed ashore from mainland China and other parts of Hong Kong, residents in areas affected by the spillage said they have never seen anything like the congealed oil lumps.
“It had a sort of bubbly consistency,” said a resident of Lamma Island quoted by the South China Morning Post, who added the substances were strewn along the high-tide line.
Others cited a rancid smell later in the afternoon, the paper reported.
While oil spills from ships are relatively common in Hong Kong, the edible palm oil may have hazardous effects once it has absorbed toxins in the ocean, according to Gary Stokes of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, quoted by the South China Morning Post.
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Source: Hong Kong Free Press
