Japan and U.S. to help with Philippine oil disaster

Japanese and U.S. experts are assisting efforts to contain the Philippines' worst oil spill and the "worst environmental disaster" already in the country's history.

A Japanese salvage ship with a remotely-piloted vehicle departed from Okinawa and is expected to arrive in the affected area off Guimaras island in about three days, the Petron Corp. said. A four-member assessment team from the United States coastguard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency arrived in Manila Tuesday.

Coastguard and private volunteer boats are using boons and spraying dispersants to help contain the massive oil spill.


A local resident, hired by Petron, wipes oil from the mangroves in Nueva Valencia on Guimaras island. The Petron Corp. tanker Solar I sank in 3,000 feet of water with 450,000 gallons of oil on board. AFP/Joel Nito photo via Yahoo News.