Peru Declares Environmental Emergency After Oil Spill

LIMA (Reuters) – Peru's government declared an environmental emergency on Thursday in a northern coastal area following a crude oil spill by state oil firm Petroperu into the Pacific Ocean.

The spill occurred over the weekend during pre-shipment maneuvers at the Talara refinery terminal in northern Peru.

Though Petroperu has not disclosed the volume of the spill, Peru's environmental watchdog OEFA reported it affected approximately 10,000 square meters of seawater and impacted at least seven beaches and local wildlife.

The Ministry of Environment announced a 90-day emergency aimed at ensuring sustainable management and the execution of recovery and remediation efforts to mitigate environmental contamination.

Petroperu stated that its clean-up brigades were deployed immediately after the spill and coordinated with the fishermen's union and local authorities to minimize disruptions to local economic and tourist activities. The company has personnel, boats, and drones in the area for preventive monitoring to swiftly detect any further issues.

Local officials reported damage to coastal plants and animals, including crabs, with fishermen experiencing work stoppages due to the spill. Fisherman Martin Pasos expressed frustration, stating they have been unable to go out for six days and highlighted a lack of communication from the oil company.