Indonesian tanker capsizes, spills toxic chemicals

Indonesian tanker capsizes, spills toxic chemicals

KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): An Indonesian tanker laden with a toxic chemicals capsized off Malaysia's southern Johor state near Singapore, leaking pollution and killing thousands of fish, officials said on Thursday.

The 533-ton MV Endah Lestari sprung a leak shortly after leaving the Johor port of Pasir Gudang early on Wednesday, said the marine director for southern Malaysia, Hazman Hussein.

It was on its way to East Kalimantan with some 600 tons of the poisonous industrial chemical, phenol, and 18 tons of diesel.

Hazman told AFP the tanker's captain alerted the Johor Port Authority on noticing the leak in the narrow Tebrau Straits separating Malaysia and Singapore.

Two tugboats were dispatched and towed the vessel to near Pasir Gudang where it capsized, he said. All 13 crew members were safe.

Hazman said there was some spillage of diesel and of the chemical, but the volume was unknown. Newspaper reports said the toxic spill had killed thousands of fish and cockles reared in 85 offshore cages.

Hazman said authorities were investigating the cause of the incident and a representative of the tanker owner, PT Lima Bahari Pandunusa, was expected to fly to Johor later on Thursday.

Malaysian State Department of Environment Director Tengku Bakry Tengku Johan said oil booms were used to contain the diesel, but it was impossible to control the leaked phenol, which is diluted in water and evaporates easily.

Phenol is a man-made chemical that is found in small amounts in some organic materials. It is used for making plastics, some types of nylon fibers, epoxy resin and disinfectants. It is found in small amounts in products such as cold sore creams, mouthwash and ear and nose drops.

In large amounts, it produces a strong, sickeningly sweet odor. Ingesting low levels of phenol can cause diarrhea and large amounts, death.