34 tons of zinc spill into Peruvian river killing 600 tons of fish

A new ecological disaster has occurred in Peru since the Repsol oil spill on the coast in January.

Thirty-four tons of zinc spilled into Peru’s Chillón River last week, reportedly killing 600 tons of trout from fish farmers in several localities along the river.

The incident happened on June 13 after a truck overturned and spilled its cargo in the river basin, in Canta’s city, located in the Sierra de Lima. The truck belongs to the Huari Service company, a subcontractor of the Volcan mining company.

On June 15, the mining company issued a statement, in which it “deeply regretted the accident” and assured financial compensation for trout producers.

“Regarding compensation for trout production, we have closed an agreement with one owner and we are in the advanced process with another two,” said the mining company.

“Since this unfortunate incident occurred, we have deployed, in coordination with the transport company, heavy machinery and duly trained personnel to collect the mineral and clean up the area where this event occurred last Monday,” added the company.

Volcan also reportedly built retention dams so the Zinc sediment would not be washed down the river.

The statement was published after the residents of Canta protested against the companies responsible for the ecological disaster. They blocked the Lima-Canta-Huayllay national highway for four hours to demand that President Pedro Castillo’s administration solve the environmental damage and compensate those affected.

The Public Ministry has already opened an investigation into the alleged crime of environmental contamination against Volcan’s subcontractor company and against those who are responsible.

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES