The coastal area of the municipality of Paraíso, Tabasco, was contaminated with tar this Sunday morning, the city council reported. Therefore, it restricted access to the sea to the public with the installation of black flags, but not to recreational activities on Sol Beach.
City council authorities, led by Mayor Alfonso Baca Sevilla, indicated in a statement that they had begun the corresponding work, without specifying what type of work or the areas to be worked on. They also emphasized that they had established communication with state and federal agencies in order to address the contamination as quickly as possible.
Despite the presence of the contaminant, they only notified the public and tourists that “access to the parking lot and our palapas is completely free, so you can continue enjoying your family day at Sol Beach.” Social media users posted videos reporting the accumulation of tar on the sand and the intense smell of hydrocarbons, while tourists continued their activities.
Neither the city council nor state or federal authorities have revealed the causes of this spill, which has primarily affected the fishing community. Last August, Playa Sol was closed for cleanup following a similar incident.
The Olmeca refinery, better known as Dos Bocas, belonging to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), is located in El Paraíso, approximately six kilometers from Playa Sol. The plant has been accused on several occasions of causing various environmental impacts, primarily on the sea and atmosphere, in the region.
Source: jornada
