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ABOVE:
Petrotrin officials clean up after yesterday’s oilspill
in La Fortune, Pluck Road, Woodland where residents were
forced to evacuate after a ruptured pipeline spayed oil
into several properties.
BY
RADHICA SOOKRAJ
Health officials from the State-owned oil company Petrotrin
evacuated villagers of Woodland yesterday after a 16-inch
oil line ruptured, spraying black crude oil over surrounding
properties.
The line, which transports oil from Forest Reserve, Fyzabad,
to Pointe-a-Pierre, ruptured close to Roland Binda’s
grocery at La Fortune, Pluck Road. The incident happened
at about 10 am.
Villagers said they heard a sound like a gunshot and when
they investigated they saw oil bubbling up from the ground.
It spread rapidly into the downstairs portion of a house
belonging to Byran Bullock. Within half an hour, it spread
onto the road.
Petrotrin workers arrived and gave instructions for evacuation
and the area was cordoned off.
A Health, Safety and Environment team led by Patrick Julien
immediately began cleaning up the spill. They threw sand
on the road and tried to siphon the oil.
Alternative accommodation has been provided for the Bullock
family.
Mitchell Chance, who lives opposite the spill, said: “We
cannot stay in our houses. The oil smelling high. They are
telling us that we can still cook but we do not think it
is safe.”
His 60-year-old mother, Marilyn Chance, who is recuperating
from a stroke, was taken away in an ambulance. Mitchell’s
wife Gaitri said: “I am fearful for the safety of my
children. My son Malcom suffers from asthma but he is in
school right now.”
Holding her two-year-old son Mark, Gaitri said: “This
smell is affecting us badly. My mother-in-law feeling light-headed.”
Another resident Prakash Achaibar said this was the third
time that the line has ruptured.
“The
last time there was more oil than this. We want to find
out what is causing this. We believe that Petrotrin must
do something about this.”
He said there had also been a spill on the nearby New Cut
Channel.
Petrotrin
responds
Petrotrin’s
corporate communications manager Arnold Corneal said between
30 to 40 barrels of oil were spilled and “approximately
three barrels have gone into a residents’ property.”
Corneal said: “This line is extremely old and hence
the reason for the constant breakage although we keep checking
the line.” He said Petrotrin planned to replace the
line.
“However,
the landscape has changed from 50 years ago. We have to
consider people’s homes and the eco-system. Consideration
is being given as to where the new line will pass.”
Corneal said that Petrotrin will investigate the oilspill
in the New Cut Channel which was mentioned by Achaibar
The
effects of yesterday’s oil spill. Photo: Radhica Sookraj
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