Buenos Aires [Argentina], March 18: Ecuadorian authorities on Sunday declared an environmental emergency due to an oil spill which contaminated a nearby river in the north-western coastal province of Esmeraldas.
On Thursday, a section of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) burst in the El Vergel area near the Esmeraldas river, some 160 kilometres north-west of Quito. Ecuadorian authorities said the burst was caused by landslides in the area which occurred amid heavy rains.
Energy Minister Ines Manzano said that the declaration would facilitate the deployment of resources and specialized teams to "mitigate the impact of the spill in this area." Manzano said that water quality would be monitored and that the contingency and clean up operation by the responsible company, state oil company Petroecuado, would also be monitored.
Ecuador President Daniel Noboa said on X that the company "must own its responsibility. Unlike in the past, this time it will answer for its actions with the obligation to provide remediation in Esmeraldas." (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune