Ibiza beaches shut after oil spill

Ibiza beaches shut after oil spill

18 July, 2007 | 2.55AM

• Section: Music News
• Written by: Terry Church

Maritime crews in Ibiza are cleaning up three popular beaches after inspectors discovered a sunken merchant ship had leaked ten tons of fuel into the sea last week. 

The ship, Don Pedro, was transporting 150 tons of fuel and 50 tons of diesel from the Mediterranean clubbing island to the port of Valencia in eastern Spain, when it sunk on Wednesday after hitting some rocks.

Last Thursday, divers were sent to try and plug holes in the vessel’s tanks some 45 metres below the surface officials said.

Clean-up work and a quick response by authorities prevented oil from reaching the nature reserve of Ses Salines located off the coast of Ibiza.

Ibiza is famous for its beaches and chill out culture - the island of Formentera near Ibiza has often been compared to the blissful scenes depicted in Bounty adverts.

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