Concern over birds as oil pumping is hindered

Concern over birds as oil pumping is hindered
LONDON - Around 300 birds are believed to be in danger as the oil slick off the stricken cargo ship MSC Napoli is believed to have completely covered them. Scientists as well as environmentalists have expressed concern as many dead birds were found along the coastline.

Salvage experts were unable to pump the oil as buffeting by the waves was very tough to overcome. Inside the vessel, chaos prevailed and it is reported that the walls are accessible only by clambering up the mobile floors.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said that the job was dangerous, “There's no power on board and the walls tilt at alarming angles," he added.

Meanwhile scavengers have ignored warnings and have made off with a host of washed off items including BMW motorbikes, wine, nappies and beauty cream. The Napoli had around 2,323 containers among which 200 are believed to be overboard.

The Acting Receiver of Wreck, Mark Rodaway assured people that every effort was being made to salvage stuff, but that it was a tough job. "There was every effort made in the early stages to secure the site and clearly there is a heavy resource implication both for the Coastguard and the police forces involved," he added. "But the numbers that actually turned out on to the beach were unexpected."

He has also appealed to people who took away stuff to return it as soon as possible.