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Article

8 Apr 2018

Author:
Adinda Normala & Amal Ganesha, Jakarta Globe

Indonesia: Oil spill in East Kalimantan kills five; causes nausea to hundreds of people

"Oil Spill in Balikpapan Takes Toll on Residents, Destroys Wildlife", 06 April 2018

...Oil spill in East Kalimantan has killed five people and is destroying marine life in the waters off Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

The oil, which came from a leak in a pipeline owned by state energy company Pertamina, has...spread to Makassar Strait, covering 13,000 hectares, including 34 hectares of mangrove swamps, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry said....

...Hundreds of people living in the area have reported nausea and dizziness, probably caused by inhaling toxic chemicals from the oil.

Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya said a special task force is trying to stop the spread of the contamination with containment booms.

...The leakage was reportedly caused by a ship that anchored in the bay and destroyed the pipe. The vessel then caught fire, killing five people who were fishing in the area.

...Pertamina initially said the oil came from the vessel. On Wednesday, however, it announced that its 20-year-old underwater pipeline linked to a refinery in Balikpapan was the source of the spill.

The vessel's owners will be questioned and can face manslaughter charges, Siswanto said.