The oil spill cleanup drive is currently ongoing in several affected beaches in Singapore. Sentosa, one of the affected areas, has made “good progress”, the Sentosa Development Corporation stated on Facebook.
As per a Facebook post, over 140,000 kilograms of oil-soaked sands have been removed from different beaches in the area since June 15.
“We have some good news to share! We have made good progress with the beach clean-up, having removed over 140,000 kg of oil-soaked sand from Siloso, Palawan, and Tanjong Beach since Saturday, June 15, 2024,” the post read.
However, the official Facebook page of Sentosa said that “there’s still work to be done”.
While the Siloso Beach shoreline is largely cleaned now, the cleanup drive is focusing on clearing oil on rock bunds and breakwaters since 21 June 2024.
“This is a challenging and time-consuming task,” it said. “These areas are harder to access than the shoreline, with uneven surfaces and oil slipping into boulder crevices.”
SDC said they are working with experts using specialised cleaning methods to thoroughly flush out the oil and clear it from the lagoon.
The spill was caused after a dredger, Vox Maxima, hit and ruptured one of the oil cargo tanks of a bunker vessel, Marine Honour, at the Pasir Panjang Container Terminal (PPT).
Earlier on June 20, Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, visited Tanjong Beach and Siloso Beach on Sentosa with MOS Alvin Tan to understand the ongoing beach cleanup work there.
The lawmaker has urged people to be patient and understanding while the clean-up process is ongoing.
Several beaches have been closed since reports emerged about the oil spill.