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Leaked oil washes up on beaches Public warned over Esso oil spill
(about 6 hours later)
Residents have been told to stay away from contaminated beachesResidents have been told to stay away from contaminated beaches
Oil is washing up on beaches in Hampshire after a pipeline leaked in Southampton Water on Sunday. Oil has been washing on to two miles (5km) of Hampshire coastline after a pipeline leaked in Southampton Water.
Esso said there had been a release of oil at its marine terminal in Fawley at 2120 BST as a ship was being unloaded. About 20 barrels of vacuum gas oil were spilled at Esso's Fawley terminal on Sunday night as a ship was unloaded.
The company said the unloading was immediately stopped and it was working to clean up the spill. Affected beaches from Hill Head to Solent Breezes have been closed and people told to stay away.
Fareham Borough Council said oil had been found between Warsash and Solent Breezes. Esso said it was assessing how much has escaped. An Esso spokesman said health risks were "very, very low" and the oil was only a "potential carcinogen" to people with repeated, prolonged exposure.
Residents are being advised by the council to avoid contaminated areas. Esso said the unloading was immediately stopped on Sunday night and it was working to clean up the spill.
Recover and disperse Booms were used to try to contain the spill within the marine terminal.
An Esso spokesman said: "We are collecting any residual oil from the leak site until the pipe can be drained completely. The exact amount of oil spilled is being assessed. Fareham Borough Council's executive leader, Sean Woodward, said emergency planners from the borough and county councils were due to meet with Esso on Monday evening.
"We immediately deployed our local oil spill response procedures and informed the harbour master and the relevant environmental agencies. "It's not your traditional black oil slick," he said, speaking from the scene.
"Booms were deployed to contain the spill within the vicinity of the marine terminal and all efforts are being made to recover and disperse the oil as soon as possible." "It's vacuum gas oil, a pale brown stain, all the way along the beach.
The company said it would continue to conduct checks along the shoreline of Southampton Water and the Solent throughout the day. "It's quite extensive. The oil is certainly hazardous."
The spokesman added: "We regret to report that some oil was found on the shore at Warsash and we have informed Fareham Borough Council of the situation. He said about 50 people working at the coastline had been "pulled off a little earlier this afternoon to get the appropriate clothing".
"I didn't realise we were dealing with such a toxic compound," he said.
A section of beach from Hill Head Sailing Club to Mean Shore was closed at about 1530 BST and signs erected, but some people have criticised the clean-up response.
Dogs 'contaminated'
Allan Boutcher said his dogs had been "contaminated with oil from the spill" after he took them for a walk near Solent Breezes on Monday morning.
He said he did not see any oil, but "immediately smelled a very strong smell of either diesel fuel or heavy oil fuel".
At the time, no signs had been put up to warn people, he added.
Fareham Borough Council said it was informed by Esso of the spill at 0800 BST on Monday.
A spokeswoman said the council was watching to see if more oil was washed ashore after the tide turned at 1600 BST.
"Over the next two to three hours, we'll have to wait and see," she said.
A boom is on standby near the entrance of the River Hamble and another boom is already in place at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, with pumps on standby, Mr Woodward said.
Earlier, an Esso spokesman said: "We immediately deployed our local oil spill response procedures and informed the harbour master and the relevant environmental agencies.
"We regret to report that some oil was found on the shore at Warsash and we have informed Fareham Borough Council of the situation.
"Arrangements are currently under way to initiate a clean up.""Arrangements are currently under way to initiate a clean up."