Singapore closes popular beaches after oil spill hits coast

Singapore has closed popular beaches on the east coast just ahead of the school summer holidays after an oil spill from a tanker damaged in a collision hit its shores, authorities said.

On Tuesday, an estimated 2,500 tons of crude oil leaked from the Malaysian—registered tanker MT Bunga Kelana 3 into the sea after the vessel collided with a bulk carrier about 13 kilometres south—west of Singapore.

In a statement issued late Wednesday the National Environment Agency said it had put up warning signs along the affected coastal area, a stretch of about 7 kilometres, and advised the public to stay away from the beaches and not to swim there.