Crude oil leaks from a pipeline off the coast of California. An environmental disaster threatens.
Newport Beach – A large oil slick has formed off the southern coast of California *. Serious environmental damage on the beaches is the result. According to the authorities, the cause of the oil spill in the Pacific is a leak in a pipeline. By Sunday (October 3rd, 2021) 480,000 liters of oil had leaked. The news site Al Jazerra, citing Reuters information, speaks of 570,000 liters.
Oil spills wreak havoc on California’s beaches
Oil lumps and dead fish and birds have washed ashore on the beaches of the largest state in the USA * since Sunday. “The oil spill has severely affected Huntington Beach – with a significant environmental impact on the beach and in the wetlands,” said Huntington Beach City Council. The effects on the environment are “irreversible” and went beyond the previously visible pollution and stench, said the district representative of Orange County, Katrina Foley, on Twitter. In Huntington Beach, emergency services have put up barriers to protect threatened areas from the contamination, reports Mayor Kim Carr.
The oil spill off the coast of California extends over an area of about 33 square kilometers, reports the Coast Guard. The affected beaches were closed to swimming and surfing. In addition, residents should avoid the coast inside and should not touch or save wild animals. Instead, they should notify the authorities. Specialists were already patrolling the stands to find animals smeared with oil, said the official Christian Corbo.
Oil spill off the coast of California: Leak in pipeline is the cause
The leak is on a pipeline that leads to an oil production platform in the Pacific Ocean, reports Katrina Foley. The cause is so far unclear and should be clarified in a further investigation. Oil leakage from the pipeline had not fully stopped as of Sunday afternoon.
The defective pipeline is connected to a production platform several kilometers off the coast of California. The cause of the leak is still unclear. However, divers would investigate them, the operators said. The funding has already been temporarily suspended. Since then, no more oil has leaked, said company boss Martyn Willsher.
After the forest fires in California that threatened Yosemite National Park *, the oil spill is the next environmental disaster in California. (Max Schäfer with dpa / afp) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
Header list image: © Ringo HW Chiu / dpa
