March 2025 oil spill in Esmeraldas province ^{CEFR B1}

A large oil spill struck Esmeraldas province in March 2025, contaminating rivers, mangroves and coastal areas. Residents first noticed a strong diesel smell at about 8:30 pm. Alejandro Bone and neighbours followed the Caple River and found water black with oil, and at the rupture site a geyser of oil nearly 17 meters high emerged from a broken pipeline.

The spill flowed downstream for more than 80 km to the Pacific Ocean. It heavily polluted at least nine beaches, and three of those were closed to the public. Small tributaries such as the Viche and Caple became anoxic and fish and other aquatic life died. Ten families arrived in Quinindé the same night carrying only backpacks; many people reported chest burning and worried about river water safety.

Official and independent figures about the spilled volume differed: the Minister of Energy first said 4,000 barrels, Petroecuador later said closer to 25,000 before adjusting the numbers again. Excluding the March 13 spill, more than 138,000 barrels had been discharged previously in the province. A United Nations report found over 300 hectares of farmland affected, around 60 hectares lost completely, and more than 4,500 fishers saw their main income disappear.

Local networks and universities mobilised quickly, opening collection hubs in several cities and sending multiple truck consignments of water, filters and supplies. Researchers sampled water without waiting for permission and found oil chemicals such as phenanthrene and anthracene in some estuaries. Petroecuador hired the LABCESTTA laboratory, which analysed later samples and reported no traces; scientists warned that delayed sampling can produce false negatives and noted limited laboratory capacity in Ecuador.