No poison leaks from Philippine ferry wreck, UN-EU team says

Brussels - No poisons have yet leaked from wrecked Philippine ferry the Princess of the Stars, but the authorities and salvage teams should take all precautions to prevent a leak, a report from the United Nations and European Union said Friday. "So far, no leakage of chemicals or oil from the wreck has been detected. I hope that the suggestions made by our experts ... will help ensure that this dreadful tragedy does not turn into an environmental disaster," EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said in a statement. The Princess of the Stars sank at the height of Typhoon Fengshen on June 21, drowning over 800 passengers. The ship was carrying some 100 tons of fuel and a large quantity of highly-toxic pesticides. Following a request from the government of the Philippines, a joint UN-EU team examined the wreck to assess the... [read full story]