Preventive measures were taken immediately to avoid spilling diesel, the Galapagos National Park administration said.
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Posted on 4/24/2022 9:01 AM Updated on 4/24/2022 10:50 AM
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A dive boat sank on Saturday April 23 in the Galapagos Archipelago, a nature reserve off the coast of Ecuador. A “surface fuel sludge” spread around the sinking site for reasons still unknown, local authorities said. Preventive measures were taken immediately to avoid diesel being spilled, added the administration of the Galapagos National Park on social networks.
“Park wardens have erected containment and dispersal barriers to limit possible negative impacts on the environment. The shipowner will carry out salvage operations based on the emergency protocol,” he continued.
The Department of Environment, in a press release, estimated that the boat “contained 2,000 gallons [7 500 litres environ] of diesel at the time of the incident” on Santa Cruz Island. He explained that due to “the presence of a superficial layer of fuel on the surface at several points in the bay, water sports activities have been suspended at certain tourist locations”. The Galapagos Islands have been recognized by Unesco for their globally unique fauna and flora as a World Heritage Site and are part of the World Biosphere Reserve.