Oil pollution at Zhuhai tourist spot prompts clearing efforts from officials

Zhuhai’s tourist island of Miaowan has been hit by heavy oil pollution, allegedly caused by a leak in a nearby overturned vessel, leaving the region’s marine officials scrambling to remove the greasy pollutants from the sea.
According to the Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration, roughly 200 square meters of sea near the pier of the island dubbed “China’s Maldives” was covered in black oil, which coated both cargo boats and nearby marine life.
The authorities’ initial probe into the matter suggested that the chemicals could have come from vessel fuel, despite their origin remaining unconfirmed. However, it was speculated that they hailed from a capsized vessel in an area of water close to the polluted site.
The task force dispatched by the mainland authority on Wednesday is currently working on clearing the pollutants out of the water using oil-absorbent sheets. The officials estimated that their work is nearing completion and stressed that the pollution has had no impact on the nearby fish breeding industry.
Miaowan, situated about 49 kilometers to the south of Hong Kong and one of the mainland city’s farthest away island clusters, is the only island with wild coral. It has been hailed as one of the top ten most beautiful islands in Guangdong.