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Ibiza fuel spill under control
AFP
IBIZA, Spain
Petroleumworld.com 07 17 07Fuel leaks from a sunken ship off the Spanish tourist island of Ibiza have dropped off sharply and two beaches closed because of the spill could re-open soon, authorities said Monday.
"There is less and less fuel. Now there is practically nothing coming out," Transport Minister Magdalena Alvarez told reporters after flying over the affected area by plane.
Floating barriers set up after the Don Pedro merchant ship sank off the port of Ibiza on Wednesday have prevented fuel from reaching the beaches of Ses Salines, a nature reserve and stopover for migratory birds, she added.
A private firm would begin plugging the ship's four remaining leaks of fuel and hydraulic oil on Monday.
Clean-up crews have removed over 30 tonnes of oil from the sea and three beaches in the south of the Mediterranean island -- Platja d'en Bossa, Ses Figueretes and Talamanca -- closed to the public since the weekend.
Some 300 people were on Monday still working on the clean-up and two of the three beaches could re-open shortly, the regional government of Ibiza said in a statement.
The 145-metre (476-foot) roll-on, roll-off freighter was carrying 100 tonnes of fuel oil and 50 tonnes of diesel when it struck a rocky offshore outcrop and sank at the start of the peak holiday season.
Thousands of tourists, mainly from northern Europe, visit Ibiza each year to sample its famous nightlife and the clear waters of its over 50 beaches.
AFP 16 1723 GMT 07 07
Copyright© 2007 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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