Oil Leak Threatens Ibiza Bird Sanctuary

Oil leaking from a sunken ship has broken through floating barriers off the Balearic Island of Ibiza, threatening a series of tiny islands that make up a protected bird sanctuary, officials said yesterday. By yesterday afternoon the oil slick had reached Ses Salines, seven miles south of where the ship sank last week. The park, which has protected status, is made up of many small islands and rocky outcrops that extend from the south of Ibiza to the north of Formentera. It is a nesting spot and a stopover for migratory birds. Ecology watchdog Greenpeace issued a warning on the spill, noting that Ibiza’s coastal region was very sensitive to oil as it is an area of “high ecological value”.

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