An oil spill has occurred off the coast of the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. Authorities have closed several beaches and declared an environmental emergency. The slick is two kilometres long.
Emergency services in Gran Canaria were alerted on Wednesday evening to an accidental oil spill. It occurred while the ship was refuelling at the port of La Luz in Las Palmas, the island's capital. Three tonnes of diesel fuel leaked. The name of the ship that leaked the substance has not been released.
Two-kilometer oil slick, beaches closed
According to Antonio Morales, president of Gran Canaria's council, the oil spill is two kilometres long and 400 metres wide. Morales added that the slick was moving south towards the neighbouring municipality of Telde, pushed by the wind.
The beaches of La Restinga, Palos, San Borondon and El Baranquillo were closed to tourists as the slick approached the coast, the Telde municipality reported on X.
The services are trying to control the situation using helicopters, drones and a rescue boat.
Closed beaches in Gran CanariaReuters
“Unfortunately, this is contamination on a large scale, which is why so many resources have been deployed,” Telde Mayor Juan Antonio Pena told Reuters. “Something like this could have been avoided. (…) It's damaging the environment and we can't let it happen again,” he added.
Main image source: Reuters