- Title: Brazilian beaches plagued by mysterious oil slick
- Date: 21st October 2019
- Summary: SUAPE, BRAZIL (OCTOBER 20, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VOLUNTEERS ON BEACH CLEANING UP THICK OILY SLUDGE VARIOUS, PEOPLE GATHERING SLUDGE AT WATER'S EDGE TO CLEAN UP PERSON WITH SLUDGE-COVERED GLOVES VOLUNTEERS GATHERING SLUDGE CRAB CAUGHT IN SLUDGE VARIOUS, PEOPLE GATHERING SLUDGE IN WATER VARIOUS, PEOPLE GATHERING UP SLUDGE ON BEACH PEOPLE CLEANING UP SLUDGE PERSON HOLDING SLUDGE-COVERED CRAB VARIOUS, PEOPLE TAKING BAGS FULL OF SLUDGE FURTHER UP BEACH TO BE COLLECTED OILY SLUDGE COMING OUT OF BAG PEOPLE GATHERING SLUDGE-FILLED BAG VARIOUS, PEOPLE ON BOAT TAKING SLUDGE AWAY PEOPLE ON SMALL PONTOON BOAT TRANSPORTING BAGS OF SLUDGE PEOPLE ON BEACH VARIOUS, SLUDGE-FILLED BAGS ON BEACH
- Embargoed: 4th November 2019 20:12
- Keywords: spill sludge Brazil petroleum pollution ocean slick beaches oil
- Location: SUAPE, BRAZIL
- City: SUAPE, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Pollution,Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA001B21KSW7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The thick petroleum sludge that has been mysteriously washing up on beaches in Brazil for more than a month struck port town of Suape outside the city of Recife in Pernambuco state on Sunday (October 20).
Normally known for its bustling port and sandy beaches with swaying palm trees, Suape's coast was coated in an oily sludge as locals pitched in to clean up the mess.
Oil has been washing up on the shore of northeastern Brazil for two months, but its origin has remained a mystery so far. On Wednesday (October 16), Brazilian state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA said it had cleaned up some 200 tonnes of the oil from Brazil's beaches.
On Thursday (October 17), the head of Brazil's environmental regulator said tests had proved the oil was Venezuelan. He said that the cause of the spill was criminal in nature, as it would otherwise have been reported.
He added, however, that Venezuela may not be responsible for the spill, even if the oil originated there.
Venezuela has denied responsibility for the oil.
(Production: Diego Nigro, Sergio Queiroz, Leandra Camera) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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