Changi Beach reopens following completion of oil spill cleanup

Operations to clean up Changi beach and Noordin beach at Pulau Ubin have been completed, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) yesterday.

The beaches were left covered with a black, tar-like substance after an oil spill in Johor on Tuesday night.

Read Also: Part of Changi Beach closed for clean-up operation following oil spill

The 800m stretch at Changi beach, which was closed due to the clean-up, has also been re-opened to the public.

The NEA said it has also been monitoring the seawater at Changi beach, Punggol beach and Pasir Ris beach.

SEAWATER QUALITY

"Test results have shown that the seawater quality is normal," the agency said, adding that it will continue to monitor the water quality.

The oil spill was caused by a collision between two vessels off Pasir Gudang Port in Johor, which caused 300 tonnes of oil spillage after damage to one of the vessel's bunker tanks.

Read Also: Johor Port confirms generator failure caused ships to collide

The beaches at Changi, Punggol and Pasir Ris were all affected, and more than 200 personnel were required to clean them.

Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has also issued suspension of sales to 12 fish farms as a result of the oil spill.

This article was first published on January 9, 2017.
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