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Manila: A team of experts sent by the United Nations arrived in Manila on Sunday to conduct tests and assess the environmental impact of the tragedy involving the ferry MV Princess of the Stars.
The ship capsized in the seas off Sibuyan Island in Central Philippine's Romblon last June 22 at the height of typhoon Fenshen.
The vessel was carrying more than 800 people at the time of the accident and authorities are apprehensive that - besides the immediate loss of lives - another tragedy could emerge in its wake as tens of tons of toxic chemicals remain trapped inside the ship's cargo hold.
According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, a team of international experts from the United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) are now in Manila and are awaiting instructions to proceed to the disaster site.
"A team of marine chemist, eco-toxicologists and civil protection experts will be proceeding to the disaster site at anytime," Duque said, adding that on top of the group's priority is to ensure that the toxic substances do not leak into the surrounding ecosystem.
Chemical leak
A possible toxic chemical leak on the stricken vessel would have disastrous consequence.
Sibuyan Island has a rich fishing ground and authorities fear that any toxic substance that leak into the nearby waters would have immediate as well as long lasting effect on marine life in the area.
At the time the MV Princess of the Stars met the tragedy, the vessel was carrying ten tons of endosulfan, a pesticide chemical used in pineapple plantations.
Duque said recent tests conducted by the health department to determine the toxicity of the waters near the site of the wreckage had so far turned negative.
Since three weeks ago, blanket ban on fishing in the area is being enforced by the agriculture department in the waters of Sibuyan Island.
Duque said the Unep experts are expected to conduct the tests over a period of one week after which they are expected to come up with recommendations on how to recover the toxic chemicals aboard the ship as well as the trapped bodies of hundreds of passengers.
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