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Aruba problems alert after oil spill reached neighboring Bonaire

The Caribbean island of Aruba issued an alert on Tuesday after an oil spill that was first spotted near Tobago spread to neighboring Bonaire, threatening its mangrove forests and national parks.

A number of Caribbean nations have actually called Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate reactions as the government of the twin-island country tries to stop oil spilling from a barge that capsized in early February while bring approximately 35,000 barrels of fuel oil.

We have divided Aruba's area in 4 areas so each department is keeping track of, the director of Aruba's Crisis Management Office (CMO), Rino Hermans, informed . Turtle nesting websites and tourist beaches will be safeguarded, he stated.

Aruba's federal government prepares to activate a 60-person group of first responders and a clean-up strategy as soon as the oil slicks show up near its shores, the CMO said.

A comparable oil spill originating from Trinidad struck a number of countries throughout the Caribbean 7 years earlier. Hermans said this could be harder to deal with as the vessel's owner and operator have actually not been recognized.

On Monday, Bonaire's government said the oil was positioning a. serious threat to both human beings and nature, which emergency. services had actually been mobilized. Social media posts by locals and. a regional media revealed images of oil-blackened sand, reefs and. birds at some beaches.

Aruba's government is prepared to help Bonaire with its clean-up. efforts. Personnels are needed, not devices, in this. stage, Hermans said.

Oil was also discovered in Grenada's territorial waters, the. closest island to Tobago, Trinidad's government said last week.

Trinidad's government finished a study that will assist it. recognize any threats and debris to securely allow for an assistance. vessel to work on the capsized barge, it stated on Tuesday.

The volume of the spill, origin, intended location and. ownership of the barge stay unidentified. However Trinidad stated last. week that the vessel carrying fuel oil was browsing along with. a tugboat that has actually not been located.

(source: Reuters)