Canada’s Pacific coast port city of Vancouver is warning residents about a toxic bunker fuel spill in the city’s English Bay and telling people not to touch the oil.The fuel spill occurred Wednesday night (April 8).
Clean-up efforts are underway by the Canadian Coast Guard and West Coast Marine Response Corporation, using long orange booms on the surface of the water, said Port Metro Vancouver.
As the clean-up continues the city is also asking people to contact the Coast Guard if they see fuel on or near a beach.
The oil has already reached the sandy beach at the foot of Denman and Davie streets in Vancouver’s West End, which is close to the famed Stanley Park, reported CBC News journalist Farrah Merali.
According to the Vancouver Sun newspaper, a tonne of oil has already been recovered by clean-up crews.
A Surey Leader newspaper article says there was a delay in containing the spill Wednesday night, and quotes anti-tanker activist Ben West saying: “It may actually be lucky that this is only bunker fuel and not bitumen. If this were a spill of tar sands oil and this much time had passed without it being contained it likely would be game over for any kind of clean up.”
More information:
CBC News – Toxic fuel spill clean-up underway in Vancouver’s English Bay – here
Vancity Buzz – Cargo ship spills oil in Vancouver’s English Bay (PHOTOS) – here
Vancouver Sun – Crews recover a tonne of oil spilled from freighter in English Bay – here
Surrey Leader – Fuel oil spill from freighter in Vancouver harbour triggers cleanup – here
City of Vancouver website – vancouver.ca
For reasons beyond our control, and for an undetermined period of time, our comment section is now closed. However, our social networks remain open to your contributions.