The environmental organization Greenpeace reported that the oil spill that occurred in Tabasco in mid-March has already caused damage in northern Veracruz. The oil slick has spread along 630 kilometers of coastline in the Gulf of Mexico.
Spill Impact Reported Along 630 Kilometers
Now, the environmental organization Greenpeace reports that the spill has caused damage 630 kilometers away, north of Veracruz:
“Currently, the oil has spread along 630 kilometers of coastline, corresponding to almost the entire length of the Southwest Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor, which runs from the Tamiahua Lagoon in Veracruz to Paraíso, Tabasco.”
Furthermore, the organization noted that the spill is particularly affecting fishing communities, who have been assisting in the cleanup despite lacking the necessary equipment. In addition to the environmental damage, the presence of hydrocarbons has affected economic activities, primarily tourism and fishing:
“Especially concerning is the vulnerable situation of fishing, Indigenous, and Afro-descendant communities, who have carried out cleanup efforts without adequate equipment or training.”
To understand the extent of the spill, the following satellite image can be seen. It was taken by NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite on March 23, 2026.
The spill itself is not visible from space, but the image does provide an understanding of the size of the affected area. Hydrocarbons have been detected from Tabasco, at the bottom of the image, to Tuxpan, in northern Veracruz, at the top.
Greenpeace reports that the crude oil has reached the towns of Tamiahua and Cazones. This means that the oil slick covers almost the entire Southwest Reef Corridor of the Gulf of Mexico, stretching from the Tamiahua Lagoon to Paraíso, Tabasco, where the Olmeca Refinery is located in Dos Bocas.
The presence of crude oil in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico is believed to be due to a spill from a ship belonging to a private oil company. Pemex announced that it would collaborate in the cleanup efforts, although it denied any connection to the spill.
As of March 15, the state-owned company had collected 90 tons of hydrocarbon-soaked waste from the beaches of southern Veracruz and Tabasco.
That same day, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat) reported that the cleanup efforts were 85% complete. The operation involved the deployment of 200 people along the southern coast of Veracruz and Tabasco.
The spill in early March has been followed by a second incident off the coast of Tabasco. Pemex reported that it recovered 549 cubic meters of hydrocarbons between March 20 and 22. The oil company has deployed 450 specialists dedicated to containment and recovery efforts.
Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on March 23 during the morning press conference that the first spill originated from a ship and indicated that there was a second incident linked to the Dos Bocas refinery. She also requested a criminal investigation from the Attorney General’s Office.
“Yes, there was a spill, as you know, from a ship. All the investigations are still underway, and we have also asked the Attorney General’s Office to intervene, because there is now a criminal offense in this case.”
Likewise, the president reiterated that Pemex was not linked to the spill in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and indicated that she instructed Víctor Rodríguez, director of the state-owned company, to personally oversee the cleanup efforts.
Source: nmas
