A photo released by the NGO Coast 2 Coast Movement shows workers cleaning up Las Capullanas beach in Peru after an oil spill (Emi KOCH)
By AFP - Agence France Presse
Oil spill in Peru's tourist area sparks 'environmental emergency'
Peru declared an “environmental emergency” after an oil spill triggered a clean-up operation on a stretch of the northern coastline that was popular with tourists.
According to state energy company Petroperu, the clean-up of half a dozen beaches in Talara province is nearing completion. The work is designed to mitigate the impact on birds, wildlife, and commerce in the area, whose population depends on fishing and tourism.
According to an Environment Ministry resolution quoted on Wednesday by state news agency Andina, the emergency measure will be in force for 90 days, during which time the authorities will have to carry out recovery and remediation work.
The leak was detected last Friday on Las Capullanas beach when the crude oil was about to be loaded onto a tanker, the company said at the weekend, without specifying the cause or the amount of oil spilled.
The government's Environmental Assessment and Supervision Agency said the oil spill extended over an area of 47 to 229 hectares (116 to 566 acres).
The public prosecutor's office opened an investigation on Sunday against Petroperu for the alleged crime of environmental contamination, which it said had affected the sea and coastline along the Pacific coast of the South American country.
“Birds and marine fauna have also been seriously affected,” the agency said.
ljc/dr/mlm
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