Overview

• The March 13 landslide ruptured the SOTE pipeline, spilling large quantities of crude oil into the Esmeraldas, Caple, and Viche rivers.
• The spill has contaminated water supplies for 500,000 people, with local authorities distributing potable water via tankers and ships.
• Ecuador has declared an environmental state of emergency, including in a protected zone home to over 250 animal species.
• Petroecuador has activated an emergency response plan to recover oil and mitigate damage, but the spill remains uncontrolled.
• Local ecosystems and livelihoods, especially fishing communities, face severe long-term impacts as rivers are rendered lifeless by the contamination.