Ecuador Declares Environmental Emergency After Major Oil Spill

Ecuador has declared an environmental emergency following a massive oil spill that contaminated the Esmeraldas River in the northwestern coastal province of Esmeraldas.

The spill occurred last Thursday when a section of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) exploded near the El Vergel area, approximately 160 kilometers northwest of the capital, Quito.

According to Ecuadorian authorities, the rupture was caused by a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall in the region.

Ecuador's Energy Minister, Inés Manzano, stated that the emergency declaration will allow the government to mobilize resources and specialized teams to contain the damage and minimize the impact on local communities and ecosystems.

Manzano also confirmed that water quality monitoring would be conducted, along with strict supervision of the cleanup operation led by the state-owned oil company, Petroecuador.

The company is currently working to contain and recover the spilled oil, but has yet to provide an estimate of the volume of crude released into the river.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa emphasized on social media platform X that Petroecuador must take full responsibility for the incident and ensure proper cleanup and environmental restoration in Esmeraldas, unlike previous cases where accountability was avoided.

The Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System, known as SOTE, is considered the backbone of Ecuador's economy, with a daily capacity of transporting 360,000 barrels of oil.

The pipeline stretches 497.7 kilometers, passing through the Amazon, Sierra, and Costa regions.

The oil spill poses a significant threat to local communities and biodiversity, with environmental activists warning of long-term damage to the river and surrounding ecosystems.