Declare an emergency in the Galapagos Islands by ship aground – Caracol Radio

Quito, February 5 (EFE) .- Ecuadorian authorities today declared an emergency in the Galapagos archipelago to the effects that can cause the accident involving a boat load of food, which ran aground on Isla San Cristobal . January 28

The Ministers of Environment, Lorena Tapia; Transport, Paola Carvajal; and Non-Renewable Natural Resources, Pedro Merizalde, signed an agreement that seeks to “implement the necessary and appropriate measures” to protect the fragile ecosystem of the archipelago.

The ship “Floreana” ran aground last January 28 in Shipwreck Bay, facing Puerto Baquerizo Moreno on San Cristobal, when carrying food and fuel.

The ministerial agreement signed today further extends the emergency system shipping cargo to the islands and supply in the archipelago.

The Transport Ministry said in a statement that it has launched a contingency plan to regularize the supply of food and basic supplies to the insular region, with the entry into operation several cargo ships.

In addition, aircraft of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) made three flights per week with perishable foods.

The emergency will last 180 days and requires the Galapagos National Park provide “technical and logistical, execute action plans and measures necessary to reduce the direct environmental involvement” for the mishap occurred with the ship “Floreana”.

In addition, the state company Petroecuador you must take steps to improve security and infrastructure for storage and distribution of hydrocarbons in the region measures.

The ship carrying food and 10,000 gallons of fuel, 11 tons of oil pinion 103 bottles gas and 48 tons of asphalt emulsion, among other products, according to the Governing Council of the Special Regime for Galapagos.

As soon as he heard the incident, the Committee for Emergency Operations in the province took action, as the removal of the load to protect and prevent potential environmental impacts.

The Ministry of Environment ordered a team of 15 rangers for environmental control in the affected area and placing barriers to absorption and containment fuel around the boat.

The Ecuadorian authorities plan to remove the boat site that ran aground and take off the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

The Galapagos Islands are located about a thousand kilometers from the Ecuadorian continental coasts and were cataloged in 1978 Natural Heritage Site by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). EFE