Ecuador Declares Emergency Over Diesel Spill

Ecuador declares emergency over diesel spill

QUITO, July 23 (Xinhua) — Ecuador’s government declared Wednesday an emergency in the central zone of coastal province of Manabi after a diesel spill contaminated more than 7 km of river waters.

The Interior Ministry of Manabi declared a state of emergency in part of the rivers Chone and Carrizal that was contaminated by an overturned diesel truck.

The accident occurred in an affluent of the Carrizal river which feeds the Chone river, one of the most important rivers in the province of Manabi.

Ronald Zambrano, biologist of the Environment Ministry said the spill of more than 11,300 liters of diesel has contaminated 7 km of rivers so far.

He said that the the spill can expand and contaminate other zones of the province of Manabi, and contaminated water can threaten the health of the inhabitants of the zone. He also said that 200 animal species will be affected by the spill.

The Environment Ministry said the construction company that owns the diesel truck will be held responsible for the environmental repair.

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