Members of the Mexican navy carry out cleanup operations in Boca del Rio, near Veracruz, to remove crude residue from the Gulf of Mexico following a spill first reported in early March, 2026
Members of the Mexican navy carry out cleanup operations in Boca del Rio, near Veracruz, to remove crude residue from the Gulf of Mexico following a spill first reported in early March, 2026
An oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico affecting hundreds of kilometers of coastline was caused by "illegal dumping" from a ship and exacerbated by seepage from natural sources, Mexican authorities said Thursday.
Large blotches of oil have been observed since early March along 600 kilometers (370 miles) of coast spanning three Mexican states, in what activists are calling an environmental disaster.
President Claudia Sheinbaum's government, which denies any "severe environmental damage" from the incident, says it has removed 128 tons of crude oil residue from the gulf.
Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales said state oil company Pemex had determined the oil came from "a ship that carried out illegal dumping" off the southern city of Coatzacoalcos, in Veracruz state.
Thirteen vessels were present in the area, and it was impossible to establish which was responsible, he said.
Seepage of naturally occurring fossil fuel from two sources contributed to the contamination, authorities said.
They added they had put marine barriers in place to limit the flow, and were investigating whether any oil rigs in the area had structural problems causing a leakage.
Mexico is the world's 11th-biggest oil producer, and the second-biggest in Latin America, after Brazil, according to Pemex figures.
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...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF CENTRAL ALABAMA
ON SATURDAY...
...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM CDT
SATURDAY...
* WINDS...Northeast 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* RELATIVE HUMIDITY...As low as 18 percent.
* IMPACTS...The combination of a dry air mass and windy
conditions will result in critical fire weather conditions.
Outdoor burning is not recommended.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions
are either occurring now....or will shortly. A combination of
strong winds...low relative humidity...and warm temperatures can
contribute to extreme fire behavior.
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