June 12, 2013
A catastrophic landslide-induced oil spill in Ecuador. One of the largest impacts of landslides occurs when the slide severs an oil or gas pipeline, allowing a release into the environment. Given that pipelines are increasingly being built in landslide-prone terrain this is a real problem. A clear illustration of this occurred in Ecuador on 31st May, when the Trans Ecuador pipeline ruptured in a landslide. The volume of oil released to the environment is reported to have been about 11,500 barrels, which is about 205,000 liters. The oil flowed into the Coca River and is now making its way downstream. The initial impact was on the city of Coca, which has 80,000 inhabitants, which had tu shut down its drinking water supply. Whilst the volumes of oil do not sound huge, the impacts are enormous. The oil is likely to affect river systems in both Peru and Brail in due course.