Radio Sweden, Rescue teams have been working around the clock to clear up the giant oil spill at Tjörn in the Gothenburg archipelago, the worst in the area since 1987.
Coastguards on nine ships using brush skimmers to remove the heavy, sticky fuel oil from the sea fear strong winds on Monday afternoon will spread more oil out from the shore while those in protective suits cleaning up the fifty centimetre thick slick, ten to fifty metres up on the small islands, believe it could take until the start of next summer's tourist season before the area is safe for the public.
The oil was first spotted off the south part of the island of Tjörn last Thursday and later moved to Krykosund and Härön.
Over two hundred tonnes of oil has so far been removed. Pumps and skimmer equipment is being used to take up the oil which has spread in bad weather from the water while on land on places where pumping equipment cannot be used, 30 people wearing special protective masks are digging up the oil with spades along the beaches. Rescue crews from Karlskrona and Vännersborg have also been drafted in.
An additional problem is high up on the shoreline where the oil has painted the rocks and must be scrubbed off manually.
Carl Ian Bissmark, Chief Fire Officer at Tjörn municipality told Radio Sweden that many islanders want to help out but it's too dangerous. Read More
(Source : Radio Sweden)
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