The Caribbean island of Bonaire has reported that oil from a leak close to Tobago had reached the shores, posing a threat to humans and nature and that the emergency services were mobilized. Parts of Bonaire’s east coast, including Lac Lagun and Sorobon, have been intoxicated with oil and vulnerable mangroves.

Currently, fish and coral ecosystems are at high risk, the government mentioned in a statement on Monday. Social media posts by residents and a radio station showed pictures of oil-stained sand, reefs, and birds at some beaches. The statement elaborated that the emergency services are currently dedicated to an effective clean-up of oil slicks.

Bonaire, dependent heavily on tourism, hasn’t declared an emergency but has notified visitors to stay away from the polluted areas. There has been no immediate info on the size of slicks that reached the east coast of Bonaire.

Local media quoted some of the officials as saying that safeguarding the mangrove-rich zone of Lac Bay is now a priority. Trinidad and Tobago’s Coast Guard first spotted the oil spill from a capsized vessel on Feb. 7, and oil is still leaking, per the authorities.

It has reportedly blackened the coastline of Tobago and can reach Grenada. A similar incident occurred in 2017 when residual fuel oil coming from a storage tank of a refinery operated by Trinidad’s Petrotrin accidentally leaked, spilling almost 20,000 gallons. The leak reached Venezuela’s Los Roques and the Isla de Aves islands.

Reference: Reuters