Gran Canaria oil spill sparks major environmental crisis

A significant environmental disaster is unfolding off the coast of Gran Canaria, a Spanish island. A few days ago, an oil spill occurred during a ship's refuelling, prompting the island's authorities to close many of the most important beaches in popular resorts.

For several days, the authorities of Gran Canaria have been grappling with a local environmental disaster caused by the spill of several tonnes of diesel fuel. The incident happened on Wednesday evening during the refuelling of a ship in the port of La Luz, located in the island’s capital, Las Palmas. However, the name of the vessel from which the substance leaked has not been disclosed.

The effects of the diesel spill are currently being monitored. According to Antonio Morales, chairman of the Gran Canaria council, the oil spill is approximately one mile in length and a quarter-mile in width.

A major concern for the island's authorities is the southward movement of the oil slick due to the wind. Local authorities report that it is approaching the neighbouring municipality of Telde, which is already closing its beaches and taking measures to address the environmental disaster.

Unfortunately, the contamination is on a large scale, which is why so many resources have been engaged [...] This could have been avoided. We will demand accountability, because it harms the environment and we cannot allow something like this to ever happen again — said Juan Antonio Pena, mayor of Telde, to Reuters.

The popular beaches of La Restinga, Palos, San Borondon, and El Baranquillo have been closed to tourists. However, whether these will be the last to suffer this fate is uncertain, as the slick is still moving. Consequently, this is one of the more serious crises for this island, primarily known for tourism.