Oil spill engulfs Venezuela's Carabobo beaches

An extensive oil spill has engulfed the western coastline of Carabobo state in Venezuela, with environmental groups sounding alarms about the dire consequences.

The spill, first noticed on Tuesday, has since been rapidly spreading, staining beaches with tarry ooze.

Yohan Flores, a regional director of the Azul Ambientalistas NGO, disclosed that a significant portion of Puerto Cabello’s beaches, the country’s largest port located 210 kilometers west of Caracas, is now heavily impacted.

Despite the severity of the situation, state oil giant PDVSA has yet to address the spill, prompting concern among environmental organizations.

NGOs like the Caribe Sur Foundation are attributing the spill to a waste lagoon near the El Palito refinery, a crucial facility in Venezuela. While a report from the National System for Risk Management acknowledged a “spill of hydrocarbons from the waste lagoon,” it provided no further details.

Marine life is also under threat, according to Flores, who emphasized the potential adverse effects on the local fauna.

In response to the crisis, cleanup efforts are underway, involving teams from PDVSA, volunteers, and fishermen seen tirelessly working to mitigate the environmental impact.

The National Organization for Rescue and Maritime Safety of Venezuela’s Aquatic Spaces (ONSA) has urgently called for “environmental contingency” action, emphasizing the need for swift measures to contain and address the spill’s repercussions.

This incident comes on the heels of a similar occurrence in July 2020 when waste from the El Palito refinery contaminated the Morrocoy National Park, a popular tourist destination known for its pristine islets and white sand beaches.

Local fishermen near Puerto Cabello express grim prospects as they anticipate a two-month halt in fishing activities.

The spill’s ramifications not only pose an immediate threat to marine ecosystems but also cast a shadow over Venezuela’s oil industry, which has seen a significant decline in production over the past decade, now hovering around 850,000 barrels per day.

As Venezuela grapples with this environmental crisis, questions loom about the broader impact on its already beleaguered economy and the fate of its once-bountiful oil reserves, signaling a critical juncture for the nation’s environmental and economic future.