Trinidad and Tobago may declare state of emergency amid severe oil spill from capsized ship

The enigmatic ship, identified solely as Gulfstream, capsized last Wednesday off the coast of the Cove Eco-Industrial Estate, near the South American island nation in the Lesser Antilles. As reported by the BBC on Sunday, the crew abandoned the ship without requesting assistance.

An extensive rescue operation has been in progress since Saturday in the waters off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. Over a thousand volunteers have already joined the state services. Divers are working to contain the oil spill from the wreckage of the ship left by the crew.

According to the AFP agency, the current evaluation by the Office for Preparedness and Crisis Management designates a second level threat associated with this incident. This implies that the country could manage the situation without global interventions.

Still, Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of Tobago, believes the problem is more severe. He stated that the government is considering an appeal to the international community for assistance.

This incident happened just days ahead of the carnival celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago. This period is critically important for the island nation's economy, given the substantial tourism revenue it brings in.

Source: BBC