World

Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister said a large oil spill near the twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean has caused a “national emergency” as crews struggled to contain the oil already coating numerous beaches on Tobago’s southwest coast.

Government yet to identify owner of vessel that overturned near Tobago last weekThe Associated Press

· Posted: Feb 13, 2024 10:51 AM EST | Last Updated: 7 hours ago

An oil spill in Tobago Island, Trinidad and Tobago, is seen in this handout photo released on Feb. 10. The origins of the vessel are still unclear, officials say. (Trinidad and Tobago/Office of the Chief Secretary/Reuters)Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister said a large oil spill near the twin-island nation in the eastern Caribbean has caused a “national emergency” as crews struggled to contain the oil already coating numerous beaches on Tobago’s southwest coast.

The government has yet to identify the owner of the vessel that overturned near Tobago last week, Prime Minister Keith Rowley said Sunday.

It was not immediately clear how much oil had spilled and how much remained in the largely submerged vessel. It also wasn’t clear what caused the vessel to overturn.

Divers have not been able to contain the leak and are trying to determine how to remove the remaining oil, said Farley Augustine, chief secretary of Tobago’s House of Assembly, who toured the area with the prime minister.

Officials worried about effect on tourismTobago is a popular tourist destination and officials worried about the spill’s impact. There was no immediate comment from environmental watchdogs.

Rowley said it’s too early to know how much the cleanup will cost, but said “some not-so-insignificant costs are being incurred just to respond to this incident.”

Workers from state-owned Heritage Petroleum Oil and Gas Company clean up an oil spill that reached Rockly Bay beach, in southwestern Tobago, on Sunday. (Akash Boodan/The Associated Press)He said several unidentified countries have offered to help, and discussions about those efforts are ongoing.

“Cleaning and restoration can only seriously begin after we have brought the situation under control,” he said. “Right now, the situation is not under control. But it appears to be under sufficient control that we think we can manage.”

Rowley said that for now, good weather is helping response efforts.