The cleanup of the oil spill at  Bloubergstrand continues, and City of Cape Town Disaster teams are still assessing whether the beach can be re-opened this afternoon.  The wreckage of the Seli One carrier, which was stranded off the Blouberg coast two years ago, leaked oil onto the beach over the weekend following rough seas.

While there has reportedly been ‘minimal’ impact on wildlife to date, according to a spokesperson from the SANCCOB seabird rehabilitation centre, concerns remain over how the oil may affect sensitive areas such as wetlands, the Robben Island sanctuary and the Koeberg nuclear power station.

Yesterday there were three seals receiving rehabilitation, while two dead birds and two dead seal pups had also been found.

Not all of the oil could be removed from the stricken carrier when it was stranded in 2009.  A great pity – because the weekend’s spill was a scary reminder of the devastation oil can cause.

[Source: EWN]

[Image: IOL]