Scottish Officials Say Oil Spill May Force Evacuation

Local officials said Thursday that they are preparing a contingency plan to move inhabitants away from coastal areas affected by the massive oil spill from the grounded tanker Braer.

The disclosure came as another day of stormy seas and skies kept salvage teams from boarding the ship, which lost power and ran aground Tuesday on the rocky coast of southern Shetland Island, north of Scotland.

During the day, oil flowing from the single-hull vessel’s ruptured tanks spread into a 20-mile slick that was endangering salmon farms--and fish cages in the sea--up the coast. The salmon industry is the Shetlands’ second-biggest, after oil operations. Some officials expressed the fear that smoked-salmon buyers might avoid produce from the Shetlands.

Meantime, dead sea birds continued to wash up on the oil-soaked coastline, and some seals and otters appeared to be soaked. The Royal Society for the Preservation of Birds estimated that as many as 2,000 birds may have already died. Some birds were being moved to a laboratory in Scotland for cleaning.

The Braer went aground Tuesday after losing engine power while steaming south of the Shetlands from Norway to Canada with 25 million gallons of light crude. Authorities have not been able yet to ascertain what proportion of the oil remains in the vessel’s tanks.

DC-3 planes, which put down some detergent spray Wednesday to try to contain and dissolve the Braer mess, did not fly Thursday because of the foul weather. The wild seas and gale winds blew an oily mist inland, contaminating fields and leaving foul oil droplets in the air around the wreck.

Martin Hall, an environmental official, said the oil-contaminated mist could have a cancerous effect on human lungs, throats and stomachs. Some farmers and salvage workers reported developing sore throats and headaches.

Audrey Mullay, headmistress of the local elementary school, three miles from the wreck, ordered her 180 students to remain inside during the school day. Some mothers kept their youngsters at home, while others sent them to stay with relatives at the north end of Shetland Island. “There is indeed cause for concern,” said Mullay, “but not panic.”

Local farmers were pondering whether to ship sheep to the Scottish mainland because their fields were becoming filmy with oil.

In the high winds, shepherd dogs could not hear their masters’ commands to move sheep to safety, farmers said. Jackie MacGlaghlan, one herder, declared: “Shetland sheep have been the healthiest in the country. We can’t let them eat contaminated grass, so we may have to move them out of here.”

Local officials also condemned some vegetable fields polluted by the oil spray.

Shetland Islands Councilman Malcolm Green said there were no immediate plans to move islanders. But he said residents might be ordered to evacuate the area if oil continued to pollute the atmosphere.