THANH HÓA — Residents living in Quang Hưng Ward in Thanh Hóa City of Thanh Hóa Province have been facing health problems due to a 4,000-litre oil spill that occurred 10 days ago, reported online newspaper vov.vn.

The spill has been blamed on a petroleum depot located in Lễ Môn Port, Thanh Hóa City, 4km from the city. The oil reached the affected area via the sewage system, which flowed into the ward.

The petroleum depot is owned by Thanh Hóa Port Joint Stock Company.

According to the ward’s health clinic, about 10 people had to get medical check-ups in local healthcare clinics with symptoms of cough, headaches and shortness of breath.

Dr Doãn Ngọc Hải, head of the Vocational and Environmental Health Institute, told the newspaper: “If the local people would not be evacuated from the oil spill-hit areas, they would easily get respiratory diseases”.

Although the local government has been working to limit consequences of the incident, people’s lives have been seriously affected.

Sixty households and 5ha of paddy fields in section 5 of Quảng Hưng Ward was directly affected by the incident.

Water in paddy fields and canals has become black with an oily and stinky smell which gave people headaches and shortness of breath.

Lưu Thị Lụa, 65, said that she got headaches and felt nauseous after the incident, despite being given medication.

The ward has become quiet because all households keep their doors closed all day to avoid the smell.

Many people with symptoms have gone to the ward’s clinic for examining and some of them with severe problems were hospitalised in the city, said a health worker.

Several families moved their elder relatives and children out of the areas.

Trần Thanh Hà, a Quảng Hưng Ward resident, said people had asked authorities to handle the incident. — VNS