At least 23 holes found on sunken MT Princess Empress

Authorities found at least 23 holes where oil is leaking in the sunken MT Princess Empress through the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) contracted from Japan.

According to Cedric Castillo's report on "State of the Nation" on Wednesday, an initial assessment from the ROV showed the front of the submerged ship off Najuan, Oriental Mindoro was heavily damaged.

"Ang assumption, safe to say, 'yung mga unang lumabas, ito 'yung laman ng tanke na ginagamit for the transportatoon ng barko," said Oriental Mindoro Governor Hurmelito Dolor.

"Ngayon ang nagle-leak ay nasa walong tanker," he added.

Dolor said they are still studying how to gather the remaining industrial fuel before it totally leak. He also said it would be impossible to hover the motor tanker as it is already at risk of being destroyed.

RDC Reield Marine Services, the ship's company, said its consultants advised to do "bagging" which includes the extraction of the fuel using a special bag while patching the holes on the ship.

MT Princess Empress sank on February 28 while carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel. All 20 people on board were rescued.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News