Ecuador Battles Devastating Oil Spill After Pipeline Rupture

A landslide caused the rupture of the SOTE pipeline, contaminating rivers, coastal areas, and a protected ecosystem, while affecting 500,000 people and halting oil exports.

• The March 13 landslide ruptured Ecuador's SOTE oil pipeline, releasing tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil into rivers and the Pacific coast.
• The spill has polluted at least five rivers, including the Esmeraldas, and impacted a protected area home to over 250 animal species.
• Approximately 500,000 people have lost access to potable water, and fishing livelihoods have been severely disrupted by oil contamination.
• Petroecuador has activated an emergency response plan and suspended crude oil exports, citing force majeure, to focus on containment and recovery efforts.
• The Ecuadorian government declared a state of environmental emergency, with cleanup operations ongoing and significant ecological and economic challenges ahead.

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