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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sea life fears follow oil spill | Sea life fears follow oil spill |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A clean-up operation is under way after heating oil spilled from a tanker, forcing evacuation of homes and leaving two people needing medical attention. | A clean-up operation is under way after heating oil spilled from a tanker, forcing evacuation of homes and leaving two people needing medical attention. |
| The work is expected to last two days after about 300 gallons (1,363 litres) of kerosene ran into water courses in the mid Wales coastal town of New Quay. | |
| Kerosene reached the beach 150m (450ft) away, raising worries for sea life. | Kerosene reached the beach 150m (450ft) away, raising worries for sea life. |
| Some oil was visible in the sea close to shore, but heavy rain raised hopes it would be dispersed quickly. | Some oil was visible in the sea close to shore, but heavy rain raised hopes it would be dispersed quickly. |
| Two elderly people were given medical help because of fumes and two houses and a shop were evacuated after the spill on Thursday afternoon. | Two elderly people were given medical help because of fumes and two houses and a shop were evacuated after the spill on Thursday afternoon. |
| The Environment Agency said it was considering taking enforcement action. | The Environment Agency said it was considering taking enforcement action. |
| We're hoping we may be able to minimise the amount of oil which may get into the sea Gareth Jones, Environment Agency | We're hoping we may be able to minimise the amount of oil which may get into the sea Gareth Jones, Environment Agency |
| Michael Hockaday, whose Penwig Hotel is yards from the site of the spill, said he had initially thought it was an oil leak from a car when fire engines arrived on Thursday afternoon. | Michael Hockaday, whose Penwig Hotel is yards from the site of the spill, said he had initially thought it was an oil leak from a car when fire engines arrived on Thursday afternoon. |
| "Obviously that wasn't the case and we soon realised the scale of the problem," he said. | "Obviously that wasn't the case and we soon realised the scale of the problem," he said. |
| "One of my staff who lives not far from the spillage had to be evacuated from her cottage along with her grandparents who live nearby. | "One of my staff who lives not far from the spillage had to be evacuated from her cottage along with her grandparents who live nearby. |
| "They all came down the hotel where paramedics called and checked them out." | "They all came down the hotel where paramedics called and checked them out." |
| He said the heating oil had flowed down a steep bank and into some gullies before reaching the beach. | He said the heating oil had flowed down a steep bank and into some gullies before reaching the beach. |
| The oil leaked down a narrow pathway between houses | The oil leaked down a narrow pathway between houses |
| "It looks as though some got onto a beach in the town but not the main Blue Flag beach," he added. | "It looks as though some got onto a beach in the town but not the main Blue Flag beach," he added. |
| Much of the oil, which flowed down a narrow pathway between houses, has been soaked up by sand laid by environment officials. | Much of the oil, which flowed down a narrow pathway between houses, has been soaked up by sand laid by environment officials. |
| However, a strong smell of oil remained in the town centre on Friday. | However, a strong smell of oil remained in the town centre on Friday. |
| Jan Coop, landlady of the Dolau Inn, said: "The concern is for the dolphins, I think, and I don't think people can believe what 300 gallons is and what damage it can cause in the little bay here." | Jan Coop, landlady of the Dolau Inn, said: "The concern is for the dolphins, I think, and I don't think people can believe what 300 gallons is and what damage it can cause in the little bay here." |
| Gareth Jones, of the Environment Agency, said although the spill had reached the beach, the oil had not yet reached the water. | Gareth Jones, of the Environment Agency, said although the spill had reached the beach, the oil had not yet reached the water. |
| He said: "Fortunately the tide was fairly low yesterday when the incident occurred, so we're hoping we may be able to minimise the amount of oil which may get into the sea." | He said: "Fortunately the tide was fairly low yesterday when the incident occurred, so we're hoping we may be able to minimise the amount of oil which may get into the sea." |
| The spill is thought to have happened after the tanker had an equipment failure. | The spill is thought to have happened after the tanker had an equipment failure. |
| Mr Jones said the oil was creating a "significant odour". | Mr Jones said the oil was creating a "significant odour". |
| He added: "Because of the steepness of the road there, it has found its way into surface water drains." | He added: "Because of the steepness of the road there, it has found its way into surface water drains." |
| The remaining oil is expected to work its way through the drains and out to the beach. One concern is that heavy rain may flush out all the oil within the water, in which case the fire service may have to attend again. | The remaining oil is expected to work its way through the drains and out to the beach. One concern is that heavy rain may flush out all the oil within the water, in which case the fire service may have to attend again. |
| Oil booms and absorbent pads are already in place to try to prevent any oil working its way into the sea. | Oil booms and absorbent pads are already in place to try to prevent any oil working its way into the sea. |