About 82,000 liters of oil have spilled into the Danube River. The accident occurred during the transfer of oil to a barge about 20 kilometers downstream from the Serbian capital Belgrade. The relevant officials confirmed this information on Thursday after analyzing water samples.
On the other hand, the Environmental Protection Department of the Vojvodina Province said that the oil was trapped in a protective barrier and that it was being verified whether it had spread into the river.
The incident occurred at the Pančevo oil refinery on April 21. That day, oil was being transferred to a barge owned by Novi Sad-based oil products company Naftachem. Local authorities initially believed that the accident was likely caused by the negligence of the barge crew.
The environmental protection agency said, “82 cubic meters of Euro (standard) diesel have been spilled and the fuel is contained within the protective barrier surrounding the barge.”
Meanwhile, the public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the extent of the pollution in the Danube River and to identify those responsible.
“Samples have been collected from seven locations identified by the inspector. Analysis is ongoing and we will see what the results are,” said Liliana Lazic, director of the Institute of Public Health in Pancevo.
Water pollution is already a serious problem in Serbia. According to official data, the country treats less than 15 percent of its wastewater. The rest is discharged directly into the river, including through sewage.
Source: AFP