Magdalen Islands cleaning up diesel spill near port
Authorities are working to contain a diesel spill along a pipeline near the harbour of Cap-aux-Meules in the Magdalen Islands.
Hydro-Québec emergency teams and Coast Guard environmental response personnel are at the site trying to clean up the spill, which authorities say could involve up to 50,000 litres of diesel fuel.
Jonathan Lapierre, the mayor of the Magdalen Islands, said the leak happened somewhere along a pipeline connecting the port to a Hydro-Québec station.
“We’ve closed all the valves along the line to stop the flow of diesel between the two places,” he said.
Most of the fuel spilled on land near the harbour, and Lapierre said it’s believed only a minimal amount entered the water.
Excavators were at work along the line to try to find the source of the leak.
“It’s a serious situation, but all the equipment and teams are in place to ensure it’s cleaned without delay and with as little impact on the environment as possible,” Lapierre said.
