Ecological disaster declared after tsunami waves cause large oil spill in Peru
It’s unclear how many gallons of oil leaked from the tanker Mare Doricum and refinery operations.
Peru beaches suffer from oil spill blamed on tsunami waves
Beaches on Peru’s central coast were coated with black sludge from a ship rocked by waves believed to be caused by the Tonga volcano eruption.
LIMA, Peru – Several beaches and waterways along Peru’s central coast were coated with oil after authorities said tsunami waves from the Tonga eruption caused a tanker to leak on Saturday, causing an ecological disaster.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines said the tanker Mare Doricum was in the process of unloading crude at a refinery when the unusual waves struck.
Several agencies worked to clean up the spill but said they had already found dead marine life near the town of Ventanilla.
Photos from the area show birds and other marine life coated with the black slime.
WHAT IS A TSUNAMI AND WHAT CAUSES THEM?
With more than 1,800 species of birds and more than 300 variations of fish, the small South American country is considered one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet.
Environmental agencies said that around 2,000 gallons of oil was recovered along a beach in the central part of the country, but it remains unclear on the exact amount lost.
Crews clean up Peru oil spill caused by tsunami waves from Tonga eruption
Footage shows crews cleaning up a beach in Ventanilla, Peru. A volcanic eruption near Tonga causes tsunami waves that crashed into a ship resulting in a crude oil spill. (Video: Oceana Peru via Storyful)
Peru’s Foreign Ministry said the oil spill was the worst ecological disaster in recent times for the country and is causing serious damage to the fishing industry.
Authorities warned that Repsol, the energy company running the refinery operations, would be held responsible.
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Image 1 of 4Oil wash ashore at a beach in the Peruvian province of Callao on January 17, 2022, after a spill which occurred during the unloading process of the Italian-flagged tanker "Mare Doricum" at La Pampilla refinery caused by the abnormal waves recorded after the volcanic eruption in Tonga. - A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific, with waves strong enough to drown two women in Peru, more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) away. (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Image 2 of 4Cleaning crews work to remove oil from a beach in the Peruvian province of Callao on January 17, 2022, after a spill which occurred during the unloading process of the Italian-flagged tanker "Mare Doricum" at La Pampilla refinery caused by the abnormal waves recorded after the volcanic eruption in Tonga. - A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific, with waves strong enough to drown two women in Peru, more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) away. (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Image 3 of 4Cleaning crews work to remove oil from a beach in the Peruvian province of Callao on January 17, 2022, after a spill which occurred during the unloading process of the Italian-flagged tanker "Mare Doricum" at La Pampilla refinery caused by the abnormal waves recorded after the volcanic eruption in Tonga. - A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific, with waves strong enough to drown two women in Peru, more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) away. (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Image 4 of 4Cleaning crews work to remove oil from a beach in the Peruvian province of Callao on January 17, 2022, after a spill which occurred during the unloading process of the Italian-flagged tanker "Mare Doricum" at La Pampilla refinery caused by the abnormal waves recorded after the volcanic eruption in Tonga. - A massive volcanic eruption in Tonga triggered tsunami waves around the Pacific, with waves strong enough to drown two women in Peru, more than 10,000 kilometres (6,000 miles) away. (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)
