Panama Fights Two-Mile Oil Spill
Using boats and containment barriers, Panamanian authorities are fighting an oil spill Monday in the western province of Bocas del Toro, affecting almost two miles of Chiriqui Grande Bay.

Petroterminal of Panama (PTP) revealed that the accident occurred yesterday when crude oil was being pumped from the ship "Petrosvsk", possibly due to damage in a loading system valve.

Emergency measures were implemented to avoid extension of the black tide, to isolate the oil and recollect it in the shortest time possible.

Several TV networks reported oil on the beaches and several fish and birds were killed.

Firefighters and members of the National Civil Protection System, the Maritime Authority and other institutions have been mobilized.

Oscar Lopez, PTP pipeline manager, said that operations might be restarted in the oil terminal within a few days.