Oil spill hits Nankan River in Kumamoto
The Nankan River in Kumamoto Prefecture was hit by a 5,000-liter oil spill Friday after a nearby food processing plant stocked up on more oil than usual before a gas surcharge was reinstated earlier in the week. Iwamoto Co., based in the town of Nankan, had increased its stores of heavy oil to stock up before higher gasoline and other surcharges were reinstated Thursday by the government after the ruling bloc-controlled Lower House rammed through a related bill. The oil is used as fuel for boilers.