Firefighters have contained a massive refinery fire on Nicaragua's Pacific coast, officials said Sunday.
The blaze at the Puma Energy facility ignited Wednesday when one of four huge fuel tanks exploded at the site in the port of Puerto Sandino, some 70 kilometers (40 miles) northwest of the capital Managua. A second tank ignited on Thursday.
"For all practical purposes, we have extinguished the fire," said Salvador Gallo, deputy director of the national firefighter department, who said however that there have been some "small, residual" flareups.
Puma Energy expects that any remaining waste oil in the tanks would finish burning Sunday, a source from the company's Managua office told AFP.
Each of the damaged fuel tanks is capable of holding some 144,000 barrels, although the company ruled out a fuel shortage following the fire.
The disaster did not cause any deaths or injuries, but government medical brigades have been dispatched to the area to assess the impact of smoke exposure on the health of nearby residents.
Oil from the spill could be seen on the coast and in surrounding vegetation, according to environmentalists, who said the damage to sensitive habitat could take years to reverse.
Surrounding beaches are home to important nesting grounds for several turtle species, while the Puerto Sandino coast and nearby Miramar beach produce 12 percent of Nicaragua's salt.
Puma Energy, a majority Dutch and Angolan-owned company with headquarters in Switzerland, bought the refinery in 2011. It had previously been run by the US group Exxon.
GMT 11:48 2017 Sunday ,31 December
Serbia launches probe after toxic waste dumped near BelgradeGMT 12:25 2017 Friday ,29 December
Quarantine office, police seize fruits, potatoes imported from MalaysiaGMT 12:03 2017 Friday ,29 December
Mount Agung`s volcanic activity may decreaseGMT 10:58 2017 Thursday ,21 December
Delhi rolls out 'anti-smog' mist cannon in trial runGMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December
Malaysia's last female Sumatran rhino gravely illGMT 15:04 2017 Thursday ,14 December
Global, Asian heat waves in 2016 due purely to climate changeGMT 10:26 2017 Tuesday ,12 December
Five elephants killed by train in IndiaGMT 06:29 2017 Monday ,11 December
Climate victims seek justice, on the street and in the courtroomMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©