The government of Peru has reported that an oil spill at a refinery in the country, triggered by a volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga last weekend, has caused an “ecological disaster.”
The Peruvian government has dispatched crews to clean up the coastline following the oil spill incident. (Photo: Reuters)
The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the oil spill has harmed the flora and fauna in protected areas covering approximately 18,000 km2 around the country’s islands.
The spill, which originated from an oil tanker unloading at the La Pampilla refinery operated by the Spanish oil company Repsol, was reportedly caused by unusually high waves following a significant underwater volcanic eruption in Tonga, located about 10,000 km away, which generated the tsunami.
The Peruvian government has also called on Repsol to cover the costs associated with the oil spill incident.
“This is the worst ecological disaster to occur around the province of Lima in recent times, severely impacting hundreds of fishing families. Repsol must immediately compensate for the damages,” asserted the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Peruvian prosecutors have opened an investigation into a Repsol subsidiary following the spill. Peruvian Environment Minister Ruben Ramirez met with officials from Repsol and reported that approximately 6,000 barrels of oil had been spilled.
The Peruvian Agency for the Supervision of Investment in Energy and Mining (Osinergmin) stated in a release that it has ordered the closure of one of the four ports at the refinery until the cause of the spill is determined.
