• Major gas line rupture in Castaic prompts shelter-in-place order and I-5 closure, California

    ByTeo Blašković

    A high-pressure natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured near Ridge Route Road and Pine Crest Place in Castaic, Los Angeles County, at about 16:20 LT on December 27, 2025 (00:20 UTC on December 28), prompting a shelter-in-place advisory and a full closure of Interstate 5 until about 21:00 LT. SoCalGas confirmed its crews isolated the damaged section, stopped the leak, and reported no ignition or explosion.

  • 22 dead in Ecuador floods, water crisis continues due to Esmeraldas oil spill

    ByRishav Kothari

    At least 22 people have died across Ecuador as of Monday, March 31, 2025, due to ongoing floods, and multiple landslides that have damaged tens of thousands of homes across the country, affecting nearly 145 000 people. Meanwhile, the oil spill in Esmeraldas continues to affect the province, with an ongoing water crisis worsening the conditions amidst floods.

  • Petroecuador declares force majeure after worst oil spill in 8 years, Ecuador

    ByRishav Kothari

    ​Ecuador’s state oil company, Petroecuador, declared force majeure on its Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) on March 18, 2025, following a catastrophic oil spill that began on March 13. The spill, caused by a landslide that ruptured the pipeline, has contaminated the Esmeraldas River, affecting over 500 000 residents who are now experiencing a severe water crisis. The landslide was triggered by heavy rains and severe weather conditions across the country that have claimed 20 lives as of March 19.

  • Ecological disaster in Peru after tsunami waves hit oil refinery

    ByTeo Blašković

    Tsunami waves caused by the massive eruption at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022, hit a tanker that was unloading crude oil at a refinery in Lima, Peru, causing an ecological disaster. The incident took place in the district of…