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Tobago oil spill infecting Grenada, could likewise affect Venezuela

An oil spill that has stained Tobago's shoreline in the Caribbean is participating in Grenada's waters and might affect surrounding Venezuela, Tobago's Chief Secretary Farley Augustine told on Thursday.

Eight days after Trinidad and Tobago's Coast Guard first identified the oil from a capsized vessel whose owner and origin have not been verified, portions of the stain have moved about 144 km (89 miles) into the Caribbean Sea at a rate of 14 km per hour, Augustine said.

It has now gone into Grenada's territorial waters, the official stated, following a fly-over by Trinidad and Tobago's Air Guard, which validated the distance the spill has actually gone and countries possibly impacted.

Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada's foreign affairs ministries did not respond to ask for comment.

Authorities in Grenada, Panama, Aruba and Guyana have actually been contacted by Trinidad and local group Caricom for information as part of an investigation about the vessel's origin, planned destination and ownership, and an accompanying tugboat.

According to initial research, the ship left Panama bound for Guyana, officials in Trinidad have said.

Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo informed press reporters on Thursday that Trinidad has inquired from Guyana on the ship's destination. If we have any capacity, then we are ready to show our next-door neighbors.

Venezuela, which stated on Wednesday it was keeping track of the spill, has been in touch with Trinidad to coordinate action action. Trinidad's Energy Minister Stuart Young fulfilled Venezuela's. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in Caracas on Thursday, her. workplace said on social networks, but the purpose of the conference was. not revealed.

UNPLUGGED LEAK

The reversed vessel continues to leakage fuel, but the. situation is now under control with a 40-feet (12 m) perimeter. supported by booms around the wreckage, Augustine stated.

We are unable to plug the leak and unless we have. information on how much fuel remains in the barge or exactly what it. contains we can not move forward, other than containment and. skimming, he included.

Trinidad's national security ministry stated on Wednesday. that it remains unidentified whether any lives were lost in the. occurrence.

A tugboat and a barge under names revealed by Trinidad's. government were recognized in satellite images taken three. days before the incident in the Caribbean Sea, reviewed by. TankerTrackers.com. According to the monitoring service, the. vessels were heading to St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

First responders and volunteers have been trying to contain. the spill and decrease its influence on Tobago's wildlife. Birds and. marine animals have actually been impacted, so authorities continue. rescue and cleansing efforts to return them to their environment,. Chief Secretary Augustine stated.

(source: Reuters)