Oil Spill Fouls River In Eastern Venezuela

Published February 11, 2012 2:45PM (EST)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's state oil company says workers are containing an oil spill in a river in eastern Venezuela.

The environmental director of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA says workers have removed a "good percentage of the crude" from the Guarapiche River in Monagas state.

Environmental Director Ramiro Ramirez told the state-run Venezuelan News Agency on Friday that workers have been using absorbent barriers to block the crude in the river. He says they have shut off water intakes along the river, where a drinking water purification plant is located.

State oil company officials said that a week ago on Feb. 4, a pipe that transports crude to a processing plant ruptured. Ramirez didn't say how much crude has spilled.


By Salon Staff

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