shipwreck
Tourist ship sank off Galápagos Islands – Thousands of liters of diesel may have leaked
An oil slick spread across the sea after a ship sank off the Galápagos Islands
© GALAPAGOS NACIONAL PARK / AFP
A ship with several thousand liters of diesel on board has sunk off the Galápagos Islands. According to the Ecuadorian authorities, a fuel slick can be seen on the water in several bays on the island of Santa Cruz.
A boat with 2,000 gallons (around 7,500 liters) of diesel fuel on board sank off the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific. According to the Ecuadorian Ministry of the Environment, the accident happened on Saturday morning off the island of Santa Cruz. “A fuel carpet can be seen in several places in the bay,” the ministry said.
Tourist ship with thousands of liters of diesel on board has sunk off the Galápagos Islands
The authorities had “taken immediate steps to reduce the impact of the incident on marine ecosystems”. Efforts are being made to isolate released fuel. Puerto Ayora, the capital of Santa Cruz, is the headquarters and captive breeding center of the Galapagos National Park.
State oil company Petroecuador said the private ship sank in Puerto Ayora early Saturday morning carrying diesel. There were no injuries. The national park administration later explained that the boat had been used for diving.
Galápagos Islands known for unique flora and fauna
The Galápagos Islands belong to Ecuador and are located around 1000 kilometers west of the South American coast in the Pacific. The archipelago has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978 because of its special flora and fauna. Species found only there include marine iguanas, land iguanas and Galápagos finches. In 1835 Charles Darwin visited the islands. His theory of the origin of species received a lot of food for thought there.