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The coasts of Falcón and Carabobo, in the Venezuelan northwest, are hit by a major oil spill, which threatens natural parks and marine ecosystems. Originated according to experts at the El Palito refinery of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), it would have dumped the equivalent of 20,000 barrels of hydrocarbons into the Golfo Triste.

The gigantic black spot threatens to extend for 350 kilometers of coastline, although it already hits especially in the Morrocoy National Park, one of the jewels of Venezuelan biodiversity thanks to its hundreds of species of flora and fauna and its coral reefs and mangroves.

"It is a true environmental tragedy, in addition to what we already see in the Mining Arc with the illegal exploitation of gold," said Julio Borges, commissioner for Foreign Relations of the presidency in charge. According to PDVSA's ad hoc meetings, "everything seems to indicate that the spill originated from the overflow of the waste pond or waste pit" of the refinery, where Iranian technicians have been working for weeks to get it started. The National Assembly has ordered an investigation into what happened.

Greta Thunberg, the famous Swedish environmental activist, echoed yesterday the complaints from ecologists and fishermen, shocked by the scale of what they consider an ecocide. "There has been a huge oil spill off the coast of Venezuela. But very little official information has been provided," Thunberg complained through her social networks.

Biodiversity in danger

The Fundación Azul Ambientalista has already reported that fish, crustaceans, shellfish and sponges are the first victims of the marine ecosystem and also that the oil spilled affects the process of photosynthesis and suffocates algae and corals. Another organization, Fundación Huellas Ágape, has deployed a hydrocarbon containment barrier within the Morrocoy Park. The activists have shown images of the degree of damage to the mangroves, covered by a kind of dark goo.

The lack of official information from PDVSA and the government's attempt to reduce the impact of the accident have collided with the determined action of the NGOs and Parliament. The Ministry of Ecosocialism only reacted after multiple complaints.

In recent days, various operations have been carried out to collect the hydrocarbon that has reached the beaches, with members of the Army and the communes always behind the environmentalists, present in the area from day one.

"We can say that 90% of the coasts of the Morrocoy National Park and the Triste Gulf are healthy with the participation of 1,200 volunteers," said Vice Minister Josué Lorca days ago, despite criticism from environmentalists.

The NGO Clima 21, on the other hand, has demanded urgent and effective actions "in accordance with internationally recognized and recommended standards and procedures to act in the face of this type of accident. Likewise, in the case of not having the material resources or adequate personnel to request international assistance to carry out these tasks ".

"The spill shows the corruption and destruction of PDVSA", concluded Borges.

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