THANH HÓA – An oil spill discovered on Sunday in Thanh Hoa Province is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of people.

Residents living in Quang Hưng Ward, Thanh Hóa City, on Monday informed local authorities that an oil spill from a local enterprise had affected their farming fields.

Currently, the area stinks of oil smell and worse, on Monday a fire broke out on a ditch affected by the oil spill. The fire near a residential area was swiftly extinguished.

Additionally, a 4ha-vegetable and rice field in Quang Hưng Commune was found affected by the oil.

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.

Dantri.vn online newspaper reported 4,000 litres of oil have leaked from the depot, however, relevant agencies are still investigating.                                        Vũ Đức Kính, Vice Chairman of Thanh Hóa City People’s Committee said "As soon as the committee received the information, especially after the fire on Monday, local authorities and relevant agencies had an urgent meeting to request Thanh Hóa Port Joint Stock Company, owner of petroleum depot, devise an immediate plan to handle the oil spill.”

Three examination stations by local authorities were set up around the area.

The petroleum company has mobilised trucks and workers to collect and filter oil from the sewers and ditches to tackle the oil spill.

Trần Thị Nguyệt, a Quảng Hưng Ward resident, said the oil had penetrated the fields and the groundwater, while the recent fire made her and other residents very anxious.

“We hope functional forces and the involved company will quickly handle the incident,” she said.-- VNS