There is strong evidence that the large oil spill off the coast of Southern California was caused by the ship’s anchorage. US investigators say a section of a pipeline on the sea floor has been towed tens of meters and a large crack has formed.

Due to the leakage from the pipeline, there have been in recent days More than half a million liters of crude oil in the sea. This immediately had severe consequences for the environment, especially in the seaside resort of Huntington Beach. Oil has washed up on beaches that may now have to remain closed for weeks. Fishing in the area has also been closed. Dead birds and fish washed up on the beaches.

California authorities do not yet know which ship may be responsible for the damage to the pipeline. It is also not clear when the leak occurred.

Not our future

The Coast Guard was accused of waiting too long to respond to reports of the oil spill. The first reports of the leak were received on Friday evening, but the investigation did not begin until the next morning. According to the Coast Guard, it was not possible to start early due to the lack of daylight.

The damaged pipeline is now empty and the oil spill into the sea has been stopped. California Governor Gavin Newsom stressed at a press conference that the spill proves to him that it is time to say goodbye to the oil industry: “This is our history, not our future.”