An oil slick is being dealt with off Woolshed Bay.
Photo: 123RF
Council staff are scrambling to contain the 5km long and 300m wide oil slick in a Coromandel bay following a boat blaze there overnight.
Waikato Regional Council deployed staff after the 47-foot fibreglass launch caught fire and sunk in Woolshed Bay, Whanganui Island.
There was 2000 litres of diesel on board. Those on board at the time were able to escape safely.
A regional council maritime officer has been at the scene of the sinking since early this morning.
The council said the slick was first noticed early this afternoon and an oil spill response was initiated and it has set up an emergency operations centre.