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Venezuela Alerts to Oil Spill in Trinidad and Tobago; Accuses "Grave Environmental Damage" in Gulf of Paria
🇲🇽 Mexico /Environment & Climate

Venezuela Alerts to Oil Spill in Trinidad and Tobago; Accuses "Grave Environmental Damage" in Gulf of Paria

From El Universal · (14m ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Venezuela has alerted the international community to a significant oil spill originating from Trinidad and Tobago that is severely impacting the Gulf of Paria and Venezuelan coastal areas.
  • The spill poses severe risks to marine ecosystems, sensitive environments, and fishing communities in the Venezuelan states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro.
  • Venezuela is demanding immediate information, an action plan for mitigation, and reparations for the environmental damage caused.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has formally expressed its grave concern to the international community regarding a significant oil spill originating from Trinidad and Tobago, which is causing severe environmental damage in the shared Gulf of Paria and along the Venezuelan coastlines of Sucre and Delta Amacuro.

su preocupación ante la comunidad internacional por el derrame

— Gobierno de Delcy RodríguezThe government expressed concern to the international community about the oil spill.

Our government, under the leadership of Executive Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, has been monitoring the situation closely through preliminary technical reports. These reports highlight the substantial risks to vital marine ecosystems, including mangroves and wetlands, as well as the impact on marine fauna and the fishing communities that depend on these resources for their livelihoods and the region's ecological balance. The affected areas are crucial for both food security and the delicate equilibrium of our natural environment.

impactos sobre áreas marinas, costas, ecosistemas sensibles y comunidades pesqueras venezolanas

— Gobierno de Delcy RodríguezThe government warned of impacts on marine areas, coasts, sensitive ecosystems, and fishing communities.

Venezuela has taken swift action, instructing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately request all pertinent information about this incident from Trinidad and Tobago. Furthermore, we have demanded a comprehensive action plan for the mitigation and containment of the spill. Our government insists on the strict adherence to international environmental law and calls for urgent measures to repair the damage inflicted upon our shared waters and coastlines.

evidencian riesgos severos para manglares, humedales, fauna marina y recursos hidrobiológicos estratégicos para la seguridad alimentaria y el equilibrio ecológico de la región

— CaracasVenezuelan authorities' assessments show severe risks to mangroves, wetlands, marine fauna, and hydrobiological resources.

We are committed to deploying all necessary resources to protect the affected ecosystems and support the impacted communities. This incident underscores the transboundary nature of environmental challenges and the critical need for regional cooperation and responsible environmental stewardship. Venezuela will continue to advocate for the protection of our natural heritage and the well-being of our citizens.

El Gobierno bolivariano ha instruido a la Cancillería para que, de manera inmediata, solicite toda la información pertinente sobre este incidente, así como el correspondiente plan de acción para la mitigación y contención del derrame

— El Gobierno de la República Bolivariana de VenezuelaThe government instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request information and an action plan for the spill.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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