[NYTr] Env: S. Korea Asks for Help to Clean Oil Spill

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

South Korea Asks for Help to Clean Oil Spill

Seoul, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) South Korea requested international
support Wednesday to contain 10,500 tons of oil spilled off its coasts
December 7, when a tanker and freighter collided.

The crude oil stain affects dozens of miles along the western coast, so
authorities from the emergency coordination center requested Northwest
Pacific Action Plan material to absorb it.

According to reports by the Yonhap News Agency, Seoul is delayed in
extracting the oil because of lack of equipment. It needs 100 tons of a
material to remove the oil from the sea.

Experts estimate that the spillage can be cleaned using 25 tons of that
material daily, but the government only has five tons available per
day, which obliged authorities to demand support from Japan, China,
North Korea and Russia.

The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that about $6.4 million will
be immediately allocated for residents and the maritime industry of the
region.

This is the most dangerous ecological disaster caused by oil spillage
in the history of South Korea.

ef ccs iff alc PL-27