HELSINKI - A slick of light fuel oil dozens of miles (kms) long has been found in the Baltic archipelago in southwestern Finland, officials said on Monday.
Reijo Salminen, division head of the Finnish Rescue Services, said ship traffic was the likely source given the slick's location in shipping lanes stretching from the harbor of Naantali to the Aland Islands.
"The oil is in the ice, but it has not hit shore yet," Salminen said, adding that the lightness of the oil grade should help once a clean-up begins. He also said sunshine should help to make it evaporate.
A spokesman for the coast guard said the service would make a surveillance flight later in the morning to assess the situation.
Reijo Salminen, division head of the Finnish Rescue Services, said ship traffic was the likely source given the slick's location in shipping lanes stretching from the harbor of Naantali to the Aland Islands.
"The oil is in the ice, but it has not hit shore yet," Salminen said, adding that the lightness of the oil grade should help once a clean-up begins. He also said sunshine should help to make it evaporate.
A spokesman for the coast guard said the service would make a surveillance flight later in the morning to assess the situation.
