"The Galapagos National Park and the Ecuadorian naval forces have installed protective barriers and absorbent materials to reduce the environmental risk posed by an Orca barge collapse with 600 gallons [2,271 litres] of diesel on board", the statement published on Twitter said.
According to the Comercio newspaper, the accident occurred in a San Cristobal island port on 22 December as a crane collapsed on the barge during loading.
Una barcaza se hundió en el mar de Galápagos. Hay emergencia activada por derrame de combustible. pic.twitter.com/DJIZqs8hBM
— LaHistoria (@lahistoriaec) December 22, 2019
Local authorities have activated an emergency plan to contain the fuel spill and reduce the risks for the environment of the Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to some of the most unique and scientifically significant ecosystems on Earth.
The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean 972 kilometres (600 miles) west of Ecuador with a population of some 30,000. The unique ecosystem of the Galapagos, which includes 19 islands in the Pacific, is called "a living museum and a showcase of evolution".
