State of emergency in Ecuador after major oil spill
Ecuador declared a state of emergency on March 16, 2025, following a major oil spill in the Esmeraldas River, which has severely impacted the region’s water supply. Authorities have urged residents to ration water as efforts to contain the spill and mitigate its effects are underway.
Barriers being set up in the river to prevent the spread of oil spill in Ecuador March 16, 2025. Image credit: Riesgos Ecuador
An oil spill in the Esmeraldas River on March 15 prompted a national emergency in Ecuador on March 16. The leak was reportedly caused by a mudslide that ruptured a section of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE).
Reports indicate that at least 800 families have been directly affected by the leak. Images shared on social media showed the river turning black due to the oil spill.
Vilko Villacís, mayor of Esmeraldas, stated that the leak had caused “unprecedented” damage. His office halted the diversion of river water to an aqueduct supplying the city and urged residents to ration water.
Petroecuador, the state-owned oil company, is working to contain and clean up the spill, but no estimate of the leaked oil volume has been provided. Ecuador, which produces 475 000 barrels of crude per day and exports 72% of it, relies heavily on the SOTE pipeline.
Some reports suggest that the spill may have resulted from an overflow at a slop pool in the Esmeraldas Refinery, which stores residual crude oil. However, no official confirmation has been provided.
The oil has seeped into soil on the hillside, with plants getting covered in crude oil, causing significant damage to the surrounding vegetation.
Multiple agencies are working to assist the affected citizens. National Secretariat for Risk Management reported that they had delivered a 2 500-liter tank to the community of El Vergel, in Cube parish.
“The authorities are coordinating activities to provide drinking water service to the cantons of Esmeraldas, Atacames and Rioverde. To this end, this Monday, 18 tankers will join to advance in the distribution of water equitably in the three cantons of the province,” said the Esmeraldas’ Mayor’s office.
The SOTE is Ecuador’s most utilized pipeline system, with a capacity to transport 360 000 barrels per day over a 500 km (310 miles) route from the Amazon to the Pacific coast.
References:
1 Oil spill in Ecuador river brings emergency declaration – France 24 – March 15, 2025
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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