Major oil spill occurrs in Venezuela

An oil spill, originating from Venezuela's El Palito refinery, has contaminated a bay along the country’s north-central Caribbean coast.

Biologist Eduardo Klein shared satellite images on social media platform X, showing an oil slick approximately 225 square kilometres (87 square miles) in size, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The spill has severely impacted the Golfo Triste, including the entirety of Morrocoy National Park, a region celebrated for its palm-lined beaches and mangroves.

Neither the state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) nor the oil ministry has issued a statement regarding the spill.

The El Palito refinery, Venezuela's smallest refining facility, has a capacity of 146,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is situated in the Puerto Cabello municipality in Carabobo state.

"The spill originated from El Palito. This morning, some beaches in Boca de Aroa were found covered with hydrocarbons, affecting local fishing boats," an unnamed source said.

Another source reported seeing three significant oil slicks that had reached the shore.