Tonga volcano eruption blamed for huge oil spill in Peru: 21 beaches polluted, the United Nations will provide to help.
Peru has declared an environmental emergency after announcing that 21 beaches on the Pacific coast have been contaminated by an oil spill.
For now, access to the 21 polluted beaches is prohibited for safety reasons. «The United Nations will provide a team of experts to help Peru deal with the oil spill», said Prime Minister Mirtha Vasquez.
The oil leak comes from a Repsol refinery, which was damaged by tremors caused by the underwater volcano eruption near Tonga.
«A committee will be formed to address the crisis, in line with national policies aimed at protecting the environment», said President Pedro Castillo.
«Repsol has promised to provide a cleaning program, including local fishermen in the cleaning of the beaches. In addition, Repsol is committed to delivering food baskets to the affected families», explained Vasquez.
«A ship flying the Italian flag spilled 6,000 barrels into the Pacific on Saturday in front of the La Pampilla refinery», according to Peruvian authorities.
Repsol replied that the Peruvian authorities had not provided a tsunami warning and for this reason «the ship was continuing to unload oil at the refinery when the waves hit».
In recent days, environmental activists have collected dead or oil-stained seabirds.
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