[Vnbiz] Mystery oil spill continues to take toll in Vietnam

[Phan, Tai]

Last Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2007 11:50:20 Vietnam (GMT+07)  
 
 
Mystery oil spill continues to take toll in Vietnam 
   
  
An oil slick of unknown origins some 5 times the permitted threshold has killed over 2,500 tons of mollusks in a Mekong Delta province in southern Vietnam, causing nearly US$1.5 million in losses.  
The Southern Center for Environment Monitoring and Aquatic Epidemics said tests conducted on the mollusks, or meretrix lyrata in Ben Tre province's Binh Dai district also revealed high levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury that surpassed safety limits.

In Binh Dinh province in the central region, local authorities Wednesday said 7 meters of its beaches in Phu Cat district were contaminated with oil.

Meanwhile, the source of the oil spill or spills that have impacted Vietnamese beaches and marine environments over the past few months remains shrouded in mystery.

Policemen from the recently-formed Environment Police Bureau are investigating while a new oil slick measuring one kilometer wide off southern Vung Tau Town was reportedly spotted days ago.

The oil spill in the central region Tuesday killed hundreds of lobsters in Phu Yen province.

Source: Tuoi Tre - Translated by A.N.O.N