Rupture of the SOTE pollutes the water of the Coca River

Coca river

Officials of the Committee of Emerging Operations (COE) declared a health emergencies in the canton Francisco de Orellana, which belongs to the province of the same name, after learning about the oil spill occurred last Friday by the break of the Trans-Ecuadorian system oil pipeline (SOTE) which was caused by  a mudslide in El Reventador.

A part of the spilled oil fell into the Coca River, which serves as an important source of the drinking water system of the town of Coca, so authorities decided to suspend the pumping of water from this plant.

Around 60 000 people in the city have been affected, including inhabitants of the rural parishes San Jose de Guayusa, Eden and Alejandro Lavaka, said the Mayor Anitha Rivas.

Until yesterday, 18 tanker trucks  delivered treated water to the affected population, however, the mayor said that they need at least 36.

“Petroecuador is committed to all measures needed, but it is the slowness with which things are done what despair us, because there are no tanker  trucks or water containers,” added Mayor Rivas, who also requested the neighbouring municipalities and the  fire department of Sucumbios  to assist in the emergency.