A state of emergency has been declared in this Caribbean archipelago. Around 15 km of coastline have been contaminated on Tobago, one of the two islands of the oil country.
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An environmental and economic disaster. The oil spill affecting Trinidad and Tobago after the sinking of an unidentified ship on Wednesday is still “not under control”warned the head of government of this Caribbean archipelago on Sunday February 11. “Cleaning and rehabilitation can only begin when the situation is under control. For the moment, it is not”declared Prime Minister Keith Rowley, officially declaring a state of emergency.
Divers failed to plug the leaking ship, which is about 100 meters long, and the Tobago Disaster Management Agency reported there were no signs of life on the mysterious vessel Gulfstream responsible for the oil spill. Around 15 km of coastline are contaminated on Tobago, one of the two islands of this Caribbean oil country of 1.4 million inhabitants, close to Venezuela.
Carnival season affected
Hundreds of volunteers worked to try to contain the spread of the thick oil stain, but that was not enough. In addition to affecting the local ecosystem, the oil spill also threatens vital tourism revenue. Trinidad and Tobago is preparing to welcome thousands of tourists for the carnival season. However, many tourist complexes and hotels in Tobago, such as the Magdalena Grand, are affected. The government therefore appealed for more people to join the volunteers. Authorities also asked tourists not to approach contaminated areas.
Video of the oil spill in Tobago… don’t know who took it but seems legit.. pic.twitter.com/WOEnIwmVAi
— Diana McCaulay (@dmccaulay) February 9, 2024
The boat that caused the disaster, the Gulfstreamremains an enigma, with no flag identified or emergency calls sent by the crew on the day of the sinking. “We don’t know who owns this boat. We have no idea where it came from, nor do we know what’s in it.”insisted Keith Rowley, without excluding that the boat could have been used for trafficking.
“We do not know if it is a cargo ship, an oil tanker or a barge because only the keel is visible and its physical elements allowing it to be identified are underwater, in an inaccessible location for the moment”, added Keith Rowley. Initially, it was supposed to transport sand and wood. The boat, which capsized off the Cove eco-industrial park in southern Tobago, was swept ashore by currents.