The government on Friday ordered salvage divers to halt retrieval operations at the sunken M/V Princess of the Stars off Romblon province due to the presence of a 10-ton chemical shipment in the ship's cargo hold.
"We've temporarily aborted retrieval operations at the ship. Starting today, no one will dive into the wreck because of the presence of the pesticide inside the vessel," said Vice-President Noli de Castro, also chief of a task force overseeing retrieval and relief operations following the sinking on Saturday.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque, another member of the inter-agency task force, said that the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) confirmed the presence of 10 metric tons of endosulfan. It was learned that the substance is inside a 40-foot container van.
"Endosulfan is a restricted pesticide for use in pineapple plantations. At toxic levels and following ingestion it can cause death or affect the central nervous system, manifesting as headaches, dizziness, nausea, tremors, convulsions which may also include cardiovascular symptoms," Duque explained.
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