CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- The Venezuelan environment minister said about 90 percent the oil spilled in the River Guarapiche in the east of the country was contained.
Minister of Environment Alejandro Hitcher said the spill occurred Feb. 4 but was now under control.
"We have fully controlled the oil spill," he was quoted by Venezuelan news agency El Universal as saying. "Ninety percent of the oil is within the barriers and it is been taken out with different systems available in the oil industry to cope with such occurrences."
It's not clear what caused a pipeline near an oil complex to rupture or how much crude oil had reached the eastern river.
"All the best efforts are being made and crews of 1,500 members have been activated to continue cleaning the waters of Guarapiche and surrounding areas as long as needed," Hitcher was quoted as saying.
The minister added that water from the river would be suitable for use in a nearby filtration place in about 10 days. The filtration plant was closed briefly as an interim response.
State-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela was leading the response, Hitcher said.
