The City’s disaster response teams will resume at first daylight with clean-up operations of the coastline that was polluted with oil that came from the SELI 1 wreckage on beach at Table View.
The coastline that stretches from Dolphin Beach past Table View is covered by an oil slick after strong winds and big swells broke the wreckage into three pieces on Friday.
Transnet National Ports Authority of South Africa will avail its vessels this morning to assist in breaking up the oil slick of 8 nautical miles [length] and 3 metres wide offshore between Cape Town Harbour and Robben Island. There is also an oil slick drifting between Dolphin Beach and Big Bay.
Yesterday afternoon reports were received of 5 penguins that were oiled on Robben Island. By sunset one (1) penguin was captured and transported to SANCCOB for treatment and rehabilitation. Further reports have been received that in total 9 penguins were recorded that were oiled. It is suspected that these birds were swimming out to sea from the penguin colony on the island searching for fish when they were contaminated.
The City is very concerned regarding the situation as it has long-term effects of the coastline and endangered species.
This morning the City will engage with the Department of Transport regarding the progress of finding a permanent solution in the removal of the wreckage that is estimated in the amount of R40 million.
The City’s disaster response teams and officials from the Department of Environmental Affairs are mustering additional resources to resolve the situation within the next two (2) days.
End
Issued by: Disaster Risk Management Centre, City of Cape Town
Source: Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, Head: Systems Integration, Special Projects and Disaster Operations, Disaster Risk Management Centre
No comments:
Post a Comment