Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

Video Credit: CEN

This video shows protected wetlands apparently being polluted by a lorry load of industrial paint that spilled and made its way into a waterway.

The Paicavi Wetlands in the municipality of Concepcion located in the central Chilean region of Bio Bio a protected area, with a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

The whole area has already been under threat because of increased construction eating into the land available for plants and animals that are native to the region. And there are now fresh fears that the spillage into the water, which feeds the wetlands, will further devastate the protected area.

Pictures Credit: CEN

Head of the health department Hector Munoz confirmed that an investigation into the transport company Sitrans is underway.

And Concepcion Mayor Alvaro Ortiz has vowed to take legal action against those responsible, saying: “We are taking legal action to establish if the polluting of the Ifarle Canal, caused by the spillage of 8,000 litres of red industrial paint that damaged our ecosystem, was intentional or not.

“We have also asked public groups to provide information on the extent of the environmental damage caused by the company when the lorry overturned.”

Director of the regional environment department Andrea Aste said: “The damage is worse in the wetlands, as it is a reserve with rich biodiversity that could be seriously affected.”

Munoz claimed the transport company was ill-equipped to manage the emergency situation and to carry out the cleanup operation afterwards.

The investigation is ongoing.

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