One or more large vessels are apparently responsible for the environmental disaster that struck the southern California coastline eight days ago, in particular Huntington Beach in Orange County.
Over 500 thousand litres of oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean, killing fish and birds. The oil slick originated from a ruptured pipeline connected to an offshore oil rig which was dragged 32 metres from its location.
Coast Guard investigators say the pipeline was damaged by a ship’s anchor. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating vessels that left the Port of Long Beach as of October 2020, which is the last month that video footage showed the pipeline was intact and in place.
Mr Bonta said that the oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach was an environmental disaster with far-reaching consequences for their fish and wildlife, their communities and their economy.
Translation by Giles Foster