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Tobago oil spill reaches Bonaire, threatening mangrove and coral environments

The Caribbean island of Bonaire said that oil from a spill near neighboring Tobago had reached its coasts, positioning a major hazard to both human beings and nature, and that emergency services had been set in motion.

Parts of Bonaire's east coast, consisting of Sorobon, Lac and Lagun, have been polluted with oil and vulnerable mangrove, fish and coral environments are at threat, the government said in a. statement on Monday.

Social network posts by residents and a radio station revealed. photos of oil-stained sand, reefs and birds at some beaches.

The emergency situation services are now committed to a fast and. effective clean-up of the oil slicks, the statement stated.

Bonaire, which is reliant on tourism, has actually not declared a. state of emergency situation but has actually encouraged visitors to prevent the. contaminated places. There was no instant information on the. size of the slicks that had reached Bonaire's east coast.

Regional media priced quote officials as stating that safeguarding the. mangrove-rich area of Lac Bay has been made a priority.

The oil spill from a capsized vessel was very first spotted by. Trinidad and Tobago's Coast Guard on Feb. 7 and oil is still. leaking, according to authorities. It has actually blackened Tobago's. coastline and is also threatening to reach Grenada.

A comparable incident occurred in 2017. Residual fuel oil from. a storage tank at a refinery operated by Trinidad's state. business Petrotrin leaked, spilling about 20,000 gallons and. reaching Venezuela's Los Roques and Isla de Aves islands.

(source: Reuters)