"[2] The triangular shaped island measures about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) across and consists of a single stratovolcano cone that reaches a height of 2,913 feet (888 m).
[3] According to writings by Ivan Popov in the 19th century, the southeastern part of Uliaga was home to a small settlement of "thieving, quarrelsome people" in 1764.
[8] By the morning of May 8, the ship had leaked well over 16,000 US gallons (61,000 L) of oil and a slick spread more than 1.9 miles (3.1 km) around the vessel, which had acquired a 15-degree list to starboard.
[9][10] On May 11, the US Office of Response and Restoration and the ship's South Korean owners declared the vessel a total loss and decided to eliminate the oil slick and the remaining fuel on board by blowing it up with high explosives.
[11] They concluded that the other option of transferring the remaining fuel on the ship to another vessel would be impossible due to the hazardous navigational conditions around the island and the time that would be required to implement the plan.