KEY POINTS:
BRANSCOMBE BEACH, East Devon - Hundreds of birds have been covered in the oil leaking from the MSC Napoli which is beached off the Devon coast.
Crowds who had excitedly scavenged for washed-up cargo of motorbikes, carpets, women's shoes and nappies have been accused of adding to the environmental damage and described as "despicable" by officials.
But the impact on wildlife is causing greater concern. The 200 tonnes of leaked oil has formed an 8km slick is and environmentalists have warned the breeding population of the guillemot will be threatened.
More than 900 guillemots and 200 gulls have been washed ashore covered in the tar-like oil from the vessel - and the Royal Society for Protection of Birds has warned these figures could triple.
Three dolphins have also washed ashore, as have hundreds of dead fish. The 62,000-tonne MSC Napoli, carrying 2394 containers including 165 with hazardous chemicals as well as 3500 tonnes of heavy fuel, had to be deliberately run aground near Sidmouth, Devon, last week when it developed a severe structural failure.
The coastguard said it had lost 200 tonnes of oil from its engine rooms as well as 103 containers, 76 of which have been retrieved. Divers have plugged a vent after heavy fuel began to leak.
The coastguard said the clear-up, including removing the ship, could take a year.
- INDEPENDENT
