“We have been able to determine that there are 18,000 square meters of beaches affected by the hydrocarbon spill,” reported the president of the Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency (OEFA). of the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment, Miriam Alegría.
The spill occurred on Saturday in the sea of the Ventanilla del Callao district during an operation of the La Pampilla refinery, of the Spanish Repsol, in the process of unloading the Italian tanker Mare Dorium.
“The damage is quite serious because we are also talking about protected areas that are being affected,” added Alegría.
In addition, authorities reported dead animals found covered in oil.
There are currently three beaches in the coastal district of Ventanilla del Callao and two protected nature reserves in the Pacific Ocean affected by the spill, OEFA reported.
Although the regulatory entity indicated that the La Pampilla Refinery had reported an emptying of 0.16 barrels of hydrocarbon, about 25 liters, in a space of just 2.5 square meters, the president of OEFA declared that: “This does not fit with the impact caused on the beaches of Ventanilla”.
The La Pampilla Refinery reported on Sunday that there had been a “limited spill” on the coast of Lima, and that at the time of the leak its security protocols were activated and “the incident” was contained the same day.
Brigades were still working in the area that continued to collect the oil that washed up on the beaches north of Lima.
In addition, The prosecution opened an investigation on Monday for the alleged crime of environmental pollution against the legal representatives and officials of the refinery.
In this regard, the Ministry of the Environment indicated that the company causing the spill could receive a fine of some 34.5 million dollars.
“Even this oil continues to affect marine fauna. There are birds that we have been able to rescue, the ravages of this oil continue to appear. It is unfortunate,” Luis Vargas, animal protector of Ventanilla, told the press.
On the other hand, the Peruvian Navy confirmed that the tanker Mare Dorium is anchored in the bay of the port of El Callao until the end of the investigations and “is prevented from setting sail,” reported the AFP agency.
The underwater volcanic eruption in the Pacific sparked panic on the islands of the kingdom of Tonga, with a tsunami that caused waves of up to 15 meters, the Tongan government reported Tuesday.
Also in Peru, two women died the same Saturday when they were swept away by the waves.
Saturday’s eruption was heard as far away as Alaska, triggering a tsunami that inundated Pacific coastlines from Japan to the United States and also reached South America.
Source From: Ambito
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