Pictures: AFP Eco disaster fears as tanker sunk at sea by giant waves

One sailor dead and 16 rescued from stricken vessel

- Jim Gomez

THE Philippines was readying itself to deal with a major environmental disaster last night after an oil tanker sank off the capital, Manila.

The 214ft long MT Terra Nova was carrying 1.4 million litres of industrial fuel when it was buffeted by huge waves on Wednesday night.

It took on water and sank just after midnight in Manila Bay.

The local coastguard rescued 16 crew members overnight, and another was reported to have died.

An aerial survey spotted an oil spill about 2.3 miles long near where the tanker sank, about four miles offshore of Bataan province.

Coastguard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said it was unclear whether it came from the ship's engines or its cargo.

He said the coastguard was preparing to contain a possible major oil spill, adding it had sent its vessel, the BRP Melchora Aquino, to assess the tanker's cargo.