Environmental disasters – The Watchers

Chemical leak at Ohio explosives plant triggers evacuations and flight restrictions

Harsh Vardhan — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 07:59:00 +0000

A chemical leak at the Red Diamond explosives plant in Vinton County, Ohio, on the morning of June 11, 2025, released a large nitrogen oxide gas cloud into the air. The incident led to temporary evacuations, a flight restriction, and a public health advisory, though no injuries or contamination have been reported so far.

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Jet fuel leak in Pennsylvania contaminates drinking water and prompts investigations

Reet Kaur — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:07:00 +0000

A jet fuel leak from Sunoco Pipeline’s Twin Oaks Pipeline in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, confirmed on January 31, 2025, has contaminated at least 38 private wells, prompting lawsuits and investigations. The leak, undetected for months, was first reported by residents in 2023.

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Toxic chlorine gas leak near Barcelona forces 160 000 residents into confinement

Rishav Kothari — Sun, 11 May 2025 13:34:06 +0000

Over 160 000 residents were placed under confinement after a fire broke out at a chemical factory in Vilanova i la Geltrú, northeastern Spain, releasing a large plume of toxic chlorine gas on Saturday morning, May 10, 2025.

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Toxic algal bloom linked to marine animal stranding along Southern California coast

Teo Blašković — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 15:10:47 +0000

A toxic algal bloom impacting marine animals has been observed along the Southern California coast in late April 2025, according to experts. The event, producing the neurotoxin domoic acid, has resulted in the most severe dolphin stranding associated with a toxic algal bloom ever recorded in the region.

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22 dead in Ecuador floods, water crisis continues due to Esmeraldas oil spill

Rishav Kothari — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 18:02:30 +0000

At least 22 people have died across Ecuador as of Monday, March 31, 2025, due to ongoing floods, and multiple landslides that have damaged tens of thousands of homes across the country, affecting nearly 145 000 people. Meanwhile, the oil spill in Esmeraldas continues to affect the province, with an ongoing water crisis worsening the conditions amidst floods.

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Petroecuador declares force majeure after worst oil spill in 8 years, Ecuador

Rishav Kothari — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:24:42 +0000

Ecuador's state oil company, Petroecuador, declared force majeure on its Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) on March 18, 2025, following a catastrophic oil spill that began on March 13. The spill, caused by a landslide that ruptured the pipeline, has contaminated the Esmeraldas River, affecting over 500 000 residents who are now experiencing a severe water crisis. The landslide was triggered by heavy rains and severe weather conditions across the country that have claimed 20 lives as of March 19.

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Catastrophic tailings dam failure at the Jagersfontein diamond mine, South Africa

Teo Blašković — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:56:35 +0000

A catastrophic tailings dam failure occurred at the Jagersfontein diamond mine in South Africa early Sunday morning, September 11, 2022, causing loss of life and severe environmental damage.

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Pipeline ruptures after rockslide, indigenous people face another environmental disaster, Ecuador

Teo Blašković — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 21:33:00 +0000

A pipeline running through Ecuador's Amazon rainforest ruptured on Friday, January 28, 2022, spraying crude oil into the rainforest. The event took place on the banks of the Coca River, threatening the livelihoods of 27 000 Indigenous Kichwa people still...

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Ecological disaster in Peru after tsunami waves hit oil refinery

Teo Blašković — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:23:00 +0000

Tsunami waves caused by the massive eruption at Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022, hit a tanker that was unloading crude oil at a refinery in Lima, Peru, causing an ecological disaster. The incident took place in the district of...

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Massive oil spill hits Orange County beaches, killing birds, marine life, California

TW — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 11:15:00 +0000

A massive oil slick originating from a pipeline leak hit the beaches of Orange County, California over the weekend, raising grave wildlife and environmental concerns. Residents of Newport Beach started reporting the smell of gas Friday afternoon (LT), October 1,...

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