- Title: Mexico investigates ship-linked oil spill affecting 230 km of coastline
- Date: 20th March 2026
- Summary: SUPPORTERS HOLDING TORCHES (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER, VIKTOR ORBAN, SAYING: "I had a difficult day (in Brussels). Although at home I am used to it as I have five children and one wife, so sometimes I have to fight as one against six, but there (at the EU summit), the situation was worse, I had to fight as one against 25. Everyone wanted to make us jo
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Endangered wildlife Mexico Oil spill Pemex Pollution Veracruz
- Location: COATZACOALCOS, VERACRUZ AND MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- City: COATZACOALCOS, VERACRUZ AND MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Pollution,Environment,South America / Central America,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA003574920032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of coastal areas in the Mexican state of Veracruz battle oil continuing to wash ashore nearly one month after the first tar stains were detected, while authorities worked to identify those responsible for the contamination.
Volunteers cleaned beaches in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz on Wednesday (March 18) and Thursday (March 19), collecting trash and tar remains as dead turtles covered in crude oil were found along the shoreline.
According to the Coral Reef Corridor Network of the Gulf of Mexico, the damage from the spill spans 230 kilometres of coastline and affects 39 communities that depend on tourism and fishing.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday that the government was investigating the spill, which appeared to have originated from an oil tanker off Tabasco, and emphasised it was not caused by state oil company Pemex.
Ecologist Alex Zepeda warned that oil residue would continue spreading due to ocean currents and called for absorbent barriers to clean the sea. Affected areas could face reduced tourism during Holy Week, a crucial period for local economies.
(Production: Tamara Corro, Dessire Carrion, Rodolfo Pena Roja, Hugo Monnet) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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