Environmental disaster in Mexico: an oil spill is contaminating the Pantepec River

A new environmental disaster shakes the Mexican state of Veracruz. A leak in an oil pipeline of the state company Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) caused a hydrocarbon spill that contaminated approximately eight kilometers of the Pantepec river, in the municipality of Álamo Temapache. The accident, which originated in the Naranjos-Poza Rica stretch near the town of Rancho Nuevo, threatens one of the most important waterways in the region, vital for biodiversity and the water supply of local communities.

According to Pemex, the leak has been identified and repaired, while industrial and environmental safety protocols have been activated. The company has installed containment barriers, oleophilic cords and pumping systems to limit fuel dispersion. In collaboration with the Ministry of the Navy, the Agency for Safety, Energy and the Environment (Asea) and local authorities, reclamation and collection operations of surface residues are underway.

According to what was reported by the Mexican newspaper Excelsior, the situation is still critical: PEMEX estimates that 4.7 million liters of hydrocarbons (equivalent to over 30,000 barrels) have been poured into the Pantepec river, but at the time of publication only 180,000 liters had been collected. The spill is estimated to extend for 16 kilometers.

However, residents report that the pollution has spread far beyond the initial boundaries. Videos have circulated on social media showing a dark spot moving with the river’s current, reaching in some places the El Cabellal stream and the Xúchitl river, a direct tributary of the Pantepec. The communities of Álamo Temapache and Tuxpan report a strong smell of fuel and fear for the quality of their drinking water, since the pumps of the State Water Commission of Veracruz (Caev) are located in the contaminated area.

The alarm is also high from an ecological point of view. The Pantepec River flows through several ecosystems, from the Northern Sierra of Puebla to the coastal plain of Veracruz, supporting humid forests and forests. It is a biological corridor of extraordinary diversity, habitat for species such as the river otter, the aquatic tlacuache, herons, ducks, fish and numerous invertebrates. The first images released show blackened banks and damaged vegetation, a sign of an already significant impact. The species that populate the shores have been contaminated and environmental organizations have launched an appeal to the population to save the affected animals, so that they can be decontaminated and reintroduced into the habitat.

Authorities fear that if the oil were to reach the Tuxpan River or even the sea, the consequences could become catastrophic for coastal ecosystems and the economies of communities that live from fishing and agriculture. Complicating the situation, heavy rains linked to a recent tropical storm are causing flooding, making containment more difficult and increasing the risk of dispersion.

The Mexican government has established a Unified Command Post at the port of Tuxpan, coordinated by the National Port System Administration (Asipona). More than 300 operators, a containment vessel, helicopters, drones and seven smaller boats are engaged in emergency operations. Over 650 meters of floating barriers have already been positioned and hydrocarbon extraction and storage activities have begun. According to Pemex, more than 80 land and river vehicles are participating in the operation, and 48 oil-repellent barriers and 13 marine barriers have been installed.

Excelsior also reports a major water crisis in Tuxpan, caused by contamination of the drinking water intake system. The population has been without drinking water since October 9 (due to a pre-existing emergency due to heavy rain) and the interruption was worsened by the oil spill. The authorities have announced the distribution of water via tankers to address the shortage, which has already caused an economic and social collapse, with rising prices and shortages of bottled water.

Despite efforts, the extent of environmental damage remains uncertain. Environmental organizations and citizens are calling for transparency and an in-depth investigation into Pemex’s responsibilities, recalling that similar episodes are not new in the country. As oil continues to flow into Pantepec, Mexico once again finds itself dealing with the fragility of its natural heritage in the face of an energy model that, too often, ignores the limits of the environment.