China Deals With Its Own Oil Spill: Big Pic

Chinese authorities have closed several beaches and an island resort near the major port of Dalian as they try to clean up an oil spill that has affected crude shipments, state media said Wednesday.

Tourists were barred from Bangchui island and city beaches amid ongoing efforts to clean up the slick that stretches over at least 183 square kilometers (70 square miles) of ocean, the China Daily newspaper said.

More than 25 tons of oil-eating bacteria and dozens of oil-skimming vessels are being used to remove the slick, after a pipeline explosion and fire on Friday sent tons of crude spilling into the sea.

In this photo released by Greenpeace, a firefighter covered in oil is rescued following an attempt to fix an underwater pump.

Some state media reports put the amount of the spill at around 1,650 tons, but others said the total amount was unknown. So far, at least 500 tons of oil have been scooped up, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Hundreds of soldiers and residents have been involved in the clean-up effort, the report said. One firefighter was killed Tuesday after he was pushed into the ocean by a huge wave and drowned.

Authorities lifted a partial ban on port traffic on Tuesday after oil was cleared from the main shipping waterways, but the interruption in port access has affected shipments of oil from Dalian to the south of the country.

Dalian is China’s second-largest port for crude oil imports and a major domestic production hub, according to the China Daily.

Refineries in the port city are processing inventories so oil prices are not expected to be impacted, Xinhua said.

Workers in Dalian are using barriers to prevent the slick from spreading, but are concerned wind and heavy rain could worsen the situation.