The Peruvian government declared a state of environmental emergency on the 20th, due to the huge waves caused by the eruption of the Tonga volcano that caused an oil spill at a refinery, polluting 21 beaches in the South American country.
Peruvian President Pedro Castillo said a commission would be set up to advise on how to deal with the crisis, in line with the country's environmental policy.
The Peruvian government said that an Italian-flagged tanker spilled 6,000 barrels of oil in the waters near the La Pampira refinery on the Pacific Coast on the 15th.
The refinery involved is owned by the Spanish company Lepsol. According to the company, the Peruvian government did not issue a tsunami warning, so when the huge waves caused by the volcanic eruption hit, the ship was still unloading oil to the refinery, leading to the spill.
Peruvian Prime Minister Mirta Vázquez said Lepsol had pledged to provide clean-up programmes that would involve local fishermen in beach cleaning operations and provide food to affected people.
According to Vazquez, the United Nations will send a group of experts to assist Peru in its aftermath. For health reasons, the Peruvian government currently prohibits people from visiting 21 contaminated beaches.
Agence France-Presse quoted former Peruvian environment minister Faviola Muñoz as saying oil cleanup could take up to two years.
An undersea volcano in Tonga erupted violently from the 14th to the 15th, triggering a tsunami that caused serious damage to the South Pacific island nation, killing at least 3 people and injuring many others.
(CCTV News)