The Philippine coastguard has placed floating barriers to limit the oil spill after an oil tanker sank off the coast of Manila.
One person died when the vessel, carrying 1.4 million liters of oil, capsized due to harsh weather.
If all the oil in the tanker were to leak out, it would be the largest spill in Philippine history, according to the coastguard.
An oil slick stretching several kilometers has been discovered, but the coastguard's spokesman Armando Balilo says the spill is "minimal" and is likely fuel used to power the tanker rather than the industrial oil cargo.
No oil has leaked from the tank itself, so we're racing against time to suck up the oil to avoid an environmental disaster, says Balilo.
Coastguard personnel are working to load boats with oil dispersants and suction pumps. When the weather improves, divers will inspect the vessel so that the operation can begin.
According to Balilo, oil spill barriers have also been placed as a precaution "for the worst-case scenario" of industrial fuel oil leaking out.
There's nothing to worry about right now, says Balilo.
