A Peruvian Navy vessel collided with an oil platform in the Amazon River early on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and leaving one person missing.
According to Peru’s defence ministry, the incident occurred at the confluence of the Napo and Amazon rivers and caused “severe damage.”
Search Operations Continue
Thirty crew members were safely rescued, while specialised divers and helicopters were deployed to continue search operations.
The oil platform, operated by Anglo-French energy firm Perenco, may have sustained damage, though it is unclear whether any oil has spilled into the river. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
“The Peruvian Navy deeply regrets the tragic loss of our sailors,” the ministry stated, pledging support for the victims’ families.
However, Perenco was not immediately available for comment.
The vessel involved, named Ucayali, struck the platform while navigating near the Napo River mouth in northern Peru.
Industrial Accidents In Amazon
The Amazon region, spanning Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador, is dotted with oil and gas extraction sites, and it has long faced threats from resource extraction and industrial accidents.
Past spills have caused severe harm to indigenous communities and local ecosystems.
The Amazon River region has witnessed several industrial accidents in the past, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by resource extraction in this ecologically sensitive area.
2022 Crude Oil Spill
One notable incident occurred in 2022, when nearly 12,000 barrels of crude oil spilled off the coast of Peru after a tanker was rocked by waves linked to a volcanic eruption in Tonga.
The spill caused extensive environmental damage, contaminating waterways and affecting nearby communities and marine ecosystems.
In other cases, pipeline leaks and equipment failures have released oil and other pollutants into the Amazon’s river systems, threatening both biodiversity and the livelihoods of indigenous peoples.
These accidents often occur in remote locations, making cleanup efforts difficult and slow.
Calls For Stronger Oversight
Environmental groups and local residents have repeatedly called for stricter regulations and greater accountability for oil companies operating in the region.
Despite these calls, industrial activities continue to expand deeper into the rainforest, increasing the potential for future disasters.
