Samoa: Fuel spill causes emergency in harbour

Samoa’s Disaster Management Office has warned people not to throw cigarette butts into Apia harbour because of a “strong fuel presence”.

An official inquiry has been called after one emergency worker claimed the spill involved more than 100 metric tonnes of unleaded petroleum.

According to reports the incident happened last Thursday night with emergency services rushing to the scene at Mulinuu to contain the spill.

The Disaster Management Office issued a bulletin on its Facebook page informing the public of the emergency.

“We advise the public who are currently at the Marina or within or around that area to refrain from lighting any fire or smoking and disposing cigarette butts into the sea due to strong fuel presence there,” the DMO warned.

“Authorities will be working on cleaning out the fuel so please take precautions when handling fire or anything associated with it when around the area.”

Petroleum Product Supplies (PPS) confirmed the spill without specifying the quantity, but said it was “immediately stopped.”

In contrast to Disaster Management and other sources, PPS downplayed the extent of the emergency: “The sea area around the wharf and nearby areas were monitored closely throughout the night to ensure the fuel had not migrated to shore or other areas where they could pose a hazard.

“An inspection of the pipeline underneath the old wharf was carried out at first light this morning, and it was discovered that a large log of wood was jammed against the submerged pipeline under the wharf, and this had caused a leak in the pipeline.”

PPS reported that the pipeline has now been sealed off and all fuel that remained in the pipeline has been pumped out.

“The wharf and surrounding area has been cleared of all spilled fuel and the area declared safe,” PPS says.

“We are quite lucky that it is petrol and not diesel as it would have been a worse situation,” the managing director of shipping company Transam Samoa, Tom Hogarth, said.