March 2025 oil spill in Esmeraldas province ^{CEFR B2}

In March 2025 a major oil spill hit Esmeraldas province, affecting rivers, mangroves and coastal zones. The incident began when residents smelled diesel at about 8:30 pm; local leader Alejandro Bone and neighbours followed the Caple River and discovered black water. At the rupture site a broken pipeline produced a geyser of oil nearly 17 meters high, and the spill moved downstream for more than 80 km to the Pacific Ocean.

The spill heavily polluted at least nine beaches, forcing closure of three to the public. Small tributaries, including the Viche and Caple, became anoxic and many fish and aquatic organisms died. Oil coated channels in the 242-hectare Esmeraldas River Estuary Mangrove Wildlife Refuge, damaging mangrove vegetation and wildlife such as the South American coati (Nasua nasua) and the blue land crab (Cardisoma crassum). A United Nations report found that more than 300 hectares of farmland were affected, about 60 hectares were lost completely, and over 4,500 fishers lost their main source of income.

Official figures about the spilled volume varied. The Minister of Energy first said 4,000 barrels; Petroecuador later said the amount had been closer to 25,000 before adjusting the numbers again. Excluding the March 13 spill, more than 138,000 barrels had previously been discharged in the province, including almost 44,000 barrels from the Balao Maritime Terminal in 1998. One barrel contains almost 160 litres of oil.

Local networks and universities mobilised a rapid response: SOS Esmeraldas, created in December 2024, opened seven collection hubs in cities such as Riobamba, Cuenca, Esmeraldas, Quinindé and Quito. Coordinators sent five major consignments and a 24-ton truck from Riobamba stocked with water, filters and supplies, and water dispensers were installed in rural schools. Researchers and students sampled water without waiting for permission; preliminary tests found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as phenanthrene and anthracene in isolated estuaries. Petroecuador hired the LABCESTTA laboratory, which analysed samples taken more than ten days after the spill and reported no traces of contamination. Scientists warned that delayed sampling can give false negatives and said Ecuador lacks sufficient laboratory capacity to detect these compounds in fish and sediments. Authorities did not issue sanitary alerts, although scientific projections suggested effects in small rivers could last up to three years.