A Peruvian navy vessel has experienced a tragic accident after colliding with an oil platform in the Amazon River, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals and leaving one person unaccounted for. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday at the juncture of the Napo and Amazon rivers, leading the Peruvian defense ministry to report “severe damage” to the vessel.
Emergency response teams successfully rescued thirty crew members from the navy ship, identified as Ucayali. Specialized diving teams, along with helicopters, were dispatched to aid in the search operation for the missing individual. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the oil platform, operated by the Anglo-French company Perenco, sustained any damage or if there was an oil leak into the river.
The defense ministry expressed deep regret over the tragic loss of their crew members, committing to provide support to the affected families. Following the incident, the ministry confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.
The vessel collided with the platform while navigating in the northern part of Peru, near the Napo River's mouth. The region is densely populated with gas and oil blocks, contributing to environmental concerns associated with oil spills which have previously harmed indigenous communities and local wildlife. Notably, in 2022, Peru faced significant ecological damage when nearly 12,000 barrels of oil leaked into the ocean after a tanker was affected by tsunami waves resulting from a volcanic eruption in Tonga. The ramifications of the latest accident are yet to be fully determined as the situation evolves.
