Ship capsized

Trinidad & Tobago: Oil spill threatens coral reef

Off the coast of the small Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago, a huge oil slick is out of control following a mysterious shipwreck. The oil is spread over at least 15 kilometers off the island of Tobago.

Among other things, a coral reef and several of the island's beaches, which are very popular with tourists, have been affected. More than 1,000 volunteers are working to remove oil from already polluted beaches.

"At the moment, the situation is not yet under control", government chief Keith Rowley told journalists on Sunday (see video above). Divers have not yet managed to seal the leak in the shipwreck.

Residents of the village of Lambeau were asked to wear masks or leave the area temporarily. The oil apparently came from a ship (pictured below) that capsized off the south coast of Tobago on Wednesday and was driven towards the beach by the waves.

It is unclear who owns the capsized ship
The accident appears mysterious: when the ship was spotted on Wednesday, it was sailing under an unidentifiable flag and was not sending out any distress signals. According to the Ministry of Emergencies, the crew has not been found.

Head of government Rowley explained that the ship could have been involved in "illegal" business. "We don't know who owns it. We have no idea where it came from and we don't know what it contains". Divers spotted the name "Gulfstream" on the side of the boat and found a piece of cable, possibly indicating that it had been towed, Rowley added.

Trinidad and Tobago is popular with foreign tourists because of its picturesque beaches. Tourism is one of the country's main sources of income. The current carnival season, which could now be affected by the oil spill, plays an important role in this.

Massive Umweltprobleme

Karibik leidet unter Erderwärmung 

The colorful marine life off Trinidad and Tobago is under serious threat. Global warming poses a risk of destroying the local coral reefs (e.g. through coral bleaching), which in turn provide food and protection for already endangered marine mammals. Another stress factor is hurricanes, which could be even more intense and unpredictable in future due to the generally higher sea temperature. This in turn can have an impact on sowing and planting choices, as consideration must be given to the changed conditions.