The worst-hit country, the Philippines, began the slow process of clearing up mud and debris Wednesday.

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The State Oceanic Administration said this week that it asked the company to give a comprehensive assessment report on the cleanup process of the oily mud with details on the spill area, including the cleaned and to-be-cleaned parts of the bay, China Daily reported.

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The perchlorates in the mud then sucked moisture out of the air until there was enough water for them to dissolve (a process known as deliquescence).

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