Environment officials warned on Wednesday that 4,000 litres of chemical waste dumped near a river north of the Philippine capital, Manila, threatened nearby fish farms. More than 1,000 residents remained in temporary shelter after waking up on Tuesday to foul-smelling fumes which forced 60 people to nearby hospitals due to nausea, chest pains and dizziness. "We have advised them to stay there for three days while waiting for the results of air and water quality tests," said one provincial disaster official.

Around 3,000 people had originally abandoned their homes but some have returned to protect their property. Twenty-two people remain in hospital. A regional environmental official said clean up crews were trying to prevent the oil-based cleaning agent from spreading into fish farms. "Oil slicks are now visible in the Marilao river," said Lormelyn Claudio. "The damage was huge."

Two men, who have admitted dumping the chemical waste from their truck, have been arrested. Their employers deny any wrongdoing. Environmental mishaps are common in the Philippines due to lax safety standards and harsh weather. In August, a tanker leaked around 500,000 litres of bunker oil off the central coastline after it sank in rough seas.
(Planet Ark, 30/11/2006)