State of emergency for Galapagos Islands after ship runs aground

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.de/state-of-emergency-for-galapagos-islands-after-ship-runs-aground/a-18235849

A state of emergency has been put in place at the famous Galapagos Islands, a week after a cargo ship carrying hazardous materials became stranded. Fuel from the vessel has leaked into the pristine marine environment.

State of emergency for Galapagos Islands after ship runs aground
Date 05.02.2015

Ecuador's government put a state of emergency in place on Wednesday (local time) for the Galapagos Islands, authorities said. Fears there are growing that fuel leaking from the stranded vessel may place the fragile UNESCO World Heritage Site ecosystem at risk.

The state of emergency will apply for 180 days and includes the national park, the protected marine reserve and the archipelago, Ecuador's Environment Ministry wrote on its website.

The ship, Floreana, carrying more than 1,400 tons of cargo, including food and hazardous materials as well as 38,850 liters (10,000 gallons) of fuel, ran aground off the island of San Cristobal on January 28.

Some fuel has leaked into the surrounding water, but has been controlled by booms.

[Scuba]

1. "Some fuel has leaked into the surrounding water, but has been controlled by booms."

Yeah, we know how well that works.

[marym625]

2. crap.

I wish we could stop using oil altogether. I know that won't ever happen but I can dream.

[RiverLover]

3. Horrible news- hope the booms hold! nt

[Judi Lynn]

4. "This is the third instance of a ship running aground near the Islands in the past year."

From your link:

This is the third instance of a ship running aground near the Islands in the past year.

In May last year, the ship Galapaface I, with nearly 72,000 liters of fuel and hazardous materials on board hit a rock, in November another supply ship succumbed to the same fate.

Unbelievable.

There should be a ban placed on travel through this area with hazardous materials.

It's all IRREPLACEABLE. What is it they don't grasp?

[quadrature]

5. jet-set Greenies ..an environmental disaster

(and tourism in general.)