Boat traffic on the Albert Canal near Olen, in the province of Antwerp, was unable to resume on Thursday morning due to an oil slick contaminating the water, Flemish Waterways Agency reported.
The spill occurred on Wednesday evening when 10,000 litres of fuel leaked from a tanker passing through the Olen lock complex. To prevent the pollution from spreading, authorities halted maritime traffic and engaged a specialised company to contain and clean up the spill.
One of the three locks was cleared of oil residues overnight, but the other two still require cleaning, according to the regional agency. No timeline for the completion of the clean-up operation has yet been provided.
For now, the lock system is holding back the fuel, effectively preventing the pollution from spreading further. Officials have confirmed that Antwerp’s water supply is not at immediate risk.
