by Rappler.com Posted on 02/25/2013 4:12 PM |Updated 02/25/2013 5:04 PM

OIL SPILL. The oil spill comes from a Panama-flagged cargo ship that sank on February 17 off Pangasinan. Graphic by Teddy Pavon

MANILA, Philippines - An oil spill from a cargo ship that sank a week ago near Pangasinan has not been fully contained and reached the surfing beaches of La Union, a citizen reported on Monday, February 25.

Mickey Galang, a local surfer from San Juan, La Union, told Rappler that traces of fuel have been found on beaches in at least 3 towns in the area.

CLEANING UP. Local surfers in La Union are cleaning up the beaches. All photos courtesy of Mickey Galang

"There was already a leak when the vessel sank. [The Coast Guard] was following the path of the oil spill, but [the path] changed and now we have found traces even close to Ilocos Sur," she said.

Galang said several surfer clubs are now conducting cleanup operations on the beaches in La Union, a popular surfing destination.

MARINE LIFE THREATENED. Animals such as sea turtles could die after ingesting the tar

The surfers informed the Coast Guard about the situation on Sunday and one surfer in particular contacted Sen Pia Cayetano.

Galang posted several pictures of the aspect of the beaches on her Facebook, where she explained that the the sticky substance is a risk to animals such as sea turtles.

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Oil spill reaches La Union surf beaches