Contamination by the rupture of the SOTE extends in Orellana

An oil slick can be seen in the Napo River

The Committee’s Emerging Operations (COE) of the province of Orellana, decided to expand the health emergency for all its jurisdiction, due to the contamination of water by the spill of oil caused for the break of the Trans- Ecuadorian pipeline system (SOTE), which was the result of a landslide in the sector ‘El Reventador’.

The oil slick traveled trough the Coca River and reached the Napo River, which crosses all the jurisdiction of Orellana.

“Unanimously, the COE has resolved to be in permanent session, until the problem is solved we have declared a health emergency,” said Rosario Cortez, Governor of Orellana.

The emergency also includes the suspension of classes for four days (until Thursday) in the neighborhoods that have been affected for the scarcity of drinking water in Coca, Guayusa, Eden and Alejandro Lavaka parishes, as well as in schools located on the bank of the Napo River, from Puerto Madero to the Aguarico canton.

On the other hand, the prefect of Orellana, Guadalupe Llori, asked the Government to bring  solutions to the issue of drinking water.

Untill today, Petroecuador agreed to install a pipe from the Payamino River (1. 700 m) towards the treatment plant of drinking water of Francisco de Orellana, as an emerging solution, and this week will restart pumping water from another River, which is less polluted.