Ecuador Faces Severe Crisis After Massive Oil Spill Contaminates Rivers

A pipeline rupture caused by a landslide has polluted waterways, left 500,000 residents without potable water, and halted crude exports.

The Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System ruptured on March 13 due to a landslide, spilling an estimated 200,000 barrels of oil into rivers in northwest Ecuador.
The spill has severely impacted the Esmeraldas province, contaminating multiple rivers and leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without access to clean water.
Petroecuador declared force majeure, suspending crude exports and focusing resources on recovery efforts and water supply for affected areas.
The environmental emergency has devastated local ecosystems, including a wildlife refuge with over 250 species, and disrupted fishing communities reliant on river resources.
Authorities are deploying tanker trucks to recover spilled crude and arranging for ships to deliver drinking water to impacted regions.