Environmental Group Urges Emergency Declaration Over Oil Spill Damage in Veracruz and Tabasco

Veracruz, Mexico — An environmental network warned on Saturday that an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has escalated into a major environmental emergency, affecting 630 kilometers of coastline, while the state governor maintained that local beaches are clean.

The Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor Network reported that the spill has contaminated 51 areas with oil residue, including nine in Tabasco and 42 in Veracruz, where pollution has reached Tamiahua, Tuxpan, and Cazones.

The spill has caused damage to marine ecosystems, with at least seven sea turtles, two dolphins, two manatees, and several pelicans found dead so far.

Local communities stated that the spill has impacted the entire Southwest Gulf of Mexico Reef Corridor, stretching from the Tamiahua lagoon in Veracruz to Paraíso in Tabasco.

Despite Governor Rocío Nahle García’s assurance on March 16 that Veracruz beaches are clean ahead of the Easter holiday period, environmental organizations accused authorities of allowing contamination to persist on beaches, flora, and fauna.

The network highlighted that 26 sites have received no cleanup attention, while other areas are being cleaned by community residents or only partially with official support.

The environmental group’s report noted that the main affected areas include coastal zones, mangroves, and marine wildlife.

The spill puts the Laguna del Ostión and 125 coral and rocky reefs within the reef corridor at risk.

Environmentalists warned that the spill threatens both ecosystems and public health due to exposure to toxic hydrocarbons.

“The impact has reached fishing, indigenous, and Afro-descendant communities, which have faced economic losses for weeks due to suspended fishing activities and reduced tourism services,” the group stated.

Environmentalists and communities demanded that authorities conduct immediate and effective cleanup across all affected areas, not just tourist beaches, but also remote locations, lagoons, mangroves, and sea turtle nesting zones.

They also called for “compensation for affected communities, transparency about the spill’s origin, penalties for those responsible, and the immediate implementation of contingency plans.”

They criticized authorities for failing to clarify the spill’s source and argued that if a private company is responsible, federal agencies must oversee containment, repair, and mitigation of environmental and social damages caused by the emergency.