Clean-up of Mexican spill underway

Clean-up: workers combat spill off Mexico

Greenpeace Mexico

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Kathrine Schmidt

, Kathrine Schmidt

 10 January 2012 17:53 GMT

Mexican authorities are battling what they say is a 1500-barrel pipeline spill in southern Veracruz just kilometres away from the Coatzacoalcos River.

Mexican environmental regulator Semarnat said Wednesday morning that the spill was now “under control” and about 100,000 litres, or about 40% of the oil, has been cleaned up. Contaminated vegetation has also been removed, Semarnat said.

The spill started on New Years’ Eve with a breach in a 30-inch pipeline belonging to Pemex Refining. The Mexican state-owned company said the breach stemmed from an act of vandalism.

Initial reports told of an “ecological disaster” in the area, and Semarnat said oil from the spill had affected 30,000 square metres of trees and brush.…

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