AFPSatellite photo of the capsized ship near Tobago, leaking oil
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 21:34
Oil is washing up on the coast of Bonaire, possibly from a ship that capsized off the south coast of Tobago earlier this month.
In twenty days the oil floated away from Trinidad and Tobago and disappeared underwater. Now it has ended up on the beaches of Bonaire, about a thousand kilometers away.
Yesterday, fish and birds were found covered in oil along the beaches on the east side of Bonaire.
Images of the pollution can be seen on social media:
Oil on Bonaire beach
Although there is no environmental disaster yet, there is concern in the Caribbean part of the kingdom. Drones, boats and satellites are used to determine the extent of the damage.
When it became known that several beaches on Bonaire were polluted, action was immediately taken to remove oil from the water.
Caribbean Correspondent Dick Drayer:
“According to the harbourmaster, the first signals of the oil leak came in a week after the ship’s accident. It was then decided to quietly monitor the situation via satellite with the authorities involved. This decision is not in the best interests of entrepreneurs on the island. fell to the ground. They felt like they were being attacked.
“The entrepreneurs can mainly be found on the east coast of Bonaire, where the beautiful tourist area of Sorobon is now threatened. They would have preferred to have had more time to warn their bathers and windsurfers. A few ventured out this morning – despite the quickly placed barrier tapes – still in the water and had to pay for it with a black bathing suit, bikini or surfboard.”
To prevent further spread of the oil, floating barriers were installed. placed. These barriers now appear to be insufficient to stop the oil.
Bonaire harbor master Gunther Flanegin speaks of a bizarre incident. As long as there is no mention of a disaster, he is responsible for coordinating the incident. If the situation deteriorates further, the government will take more measures.
Polluted beaches
The island government of Bonaire has now advised residents and tourists to stay away from the polluted beaches. According to a local spokesperson, “it is difficult to monitor exactly how much oil will still come ashore.”
Emergency workers and cleanup workers receive protective clothing.
Spookschip
The pollution appears to come from the ship Gulfstream, which capsized off the south coast of Tobago in early February with about 35,000 barrels of crude fuel oil on board. The ship was en route from Panama to Guyana and has been leaking oil ever since.
When the Coast Guard arrived at the ship, there was no crew left on board. The ship’s owner has not yet commented on the incident.
2024-02-27 20:34:45
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