Public advised not to swim at Changi Beach & Pasir Ris Beach after oil spill in Johor Strait

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has advised the public not to swim or conduct other primary contact water activities at Changi Beach and Pasir Ris Beach, following an oil spill incident in the Johor Strait on Apr. 3.

An oil patch was spotted off the northeastern coast of Pulau Ubin at around 7:10pm on Apr. 3, according to a Facebook post by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Three MPA patrol craft and an oil spill response craft were subsequently deployed to survey the area and carry out mitigation efforts.

The Johor Port Authority later confirmed that an oil spill incident happened within the Langsat Terminal in Johor, MPA said.

Oil leak stopped, clean up ongoing

In an update on Apr. 4, MPA said they were informed by the Johor Port Authority that the oil leak has stopped and that the spill clean-up at Langsat Terminal is ongoing.

No other oil patches at sea and ashore have been sighted at this time.

On the Singapore side, clean-up operations for the oil patch off the northeastern coast of Pulau Ubin and along Changi Beach are ongoing.

NParks said booms will be deployed at Chek Jawa Wetlands in Pulau Ubin as a precautionary measure to protect the biodiversity-sensitive areas.

Drones and satellite imagery are being used to monitor the surrounding waters for any additional oil patches.

The Marine Oil Sweeper, an additional oil recovery system, has been deployed off Pulau Ubin as a precautionary measure in case other oil patches are found.

Public advised not to swim at Changi Beach, Pasir Ris Beach

In the wake of the oil spill, NEA has advised the public against swimming and other primary contact water activities at Changi Beach and Pasir Ris Beach until further notice.

Parts of Changi Beach will also be cordoned off to facilitate clean-up operations.

Public access to Chek Jawa Wetlands is also temporarily closed till further notice for the oil spill clean-up.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is also working with fish farms in the East Johor Straits to take necessary preventive measures.

Updates on the situation will be provided if there are significant developments.

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Top image from MPA/Facebook