Lake Maracaibo oil spill reported in Venezuela's Zulia state

The NGO Fundación Azul Ambientalistas has reported a large-scale oil spill in Venezuela’s Lake Maracaibo, specifically impacting the coasts of the Valmore Rodríguez municipality in Zulia state. The organization stated that the spill severely threatens the marine ecosystem and harms hundreds of local families, including fishermen and residents.

Leadership from the foundation, including Gustavo Carrasquel and Yohan Flores, has called on the Venezuelan government and the state-owned oil company PDVSA to implement immediate containment protocols and provide accountability for funds intended for the lake's restoration. The NGO noted that such spills have become frequent alongside the recent reactivation of oil activities in the region.

To address the ongoing environmental crisis, the foundation proposed that 5% of oil royalties be allocated toward the recovery of Lake Maracaibo under strict international supervision.