Environmental groups have accused the Mexican government of misleading the public over the origins of the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, but officials have strongly rejected these claims.
According to the Associated Press, the spill has spread more than 373 miles off the coast of Veracruz, affecting at least seven protected areas and harming marine life including turtles and fish.
Local fishermen have also been affected and have become unable to do some work.
The government says about 800 tons of hydrocarbon waste entered the ocean and blames a shipwreck and a naturally occurring oil spill.
However, a coalition of environmental groups including Greenpeace Mexico and the Mexican Center for Environmental Rights dispute that explanation.
They say satellite images show the leak is from a pipeline belonging to state oil company Pemex and may have started earlier than reported.
According to CEMDA spokeswoman Margarita Campuzano, “This lack of information is causing massive economic and environmental damage. So far no one has been held accountable.”
Pemex rejected the claims, calling the images “false” and saying the ships identified by the activists conduct regular inspection and response operations.
President Claudia Sheinbaum also denied the allegations, saying “no leaks have been reported” in the state’s oil infrastructure and suggesting that the spill could have been caused by natural seepage.
