Oil spill in Esmeraldas: a public health emergency in the context of environmental racism

Esmeraldas, a coastal province in northern Ecuador, is among the country's most vulnerable and marginalized regions.With more than 70% of its population selfidentified as Afro-descendant and high levels of multidimensional poverty, it faces historical exclusion from essential public services such as health care, potable water, and sanitation.This configuration of vulnerability is key to understanding the impact of the oil spill that occurred on March 13, 2025, 1 not only as an environmental disaster but also as a public health emergency and a human rights crisis.The Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE), operated by EP Petroecuador, spans Ecuador from east to west, from the oil fields of Lago Agrio to the Balao Maritime Terminal and the Esmeraldas Refinery on the Pacific coast.In the Esmeraldas province, a section of the SOTE collapsed in El Vergel due to a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall, releasing 25,116 barrels of crude oil and contaminating the Caple, Viche, and Esmeraldas rivers. 1 The spill spread over 86 km, impacting mangroves, estuaries, beaches, and the Pacific Ocean, forcing the shutdown of water intake systems.A second spill on March 22 further worsened the situation.Approximately 500,000 people were affected in the provinces of Quinind, Esmeraldas, Atacames, and Rioverde.This event was not isolated, as at least five of the 13 incidents involving spills exceeding 15,000 barrels occurred in Esmeraldas during the 50 years of SOTE operation. 2Moreover, environmental pollution from the State Refinery of Esmeraldas, which produces 60% of the country's daily fuel, exacerbates the environmental risks for the population.