A loop of canals surrounding the city of Bruges have been closed to shipping on Friday due to a major oil spill discovered late on Thursday evening, the local Environment Councillor said.
Protective dikes are being used to absorb and contain the oil. The origin of the leak has not yet been identified.
A pool of fuel oil stretching for about two kilometres was noticed on Thursday shortly after 17:00 on the Ringvaart canals.
“We feared that the material was widely dispersed, which is why the fire brigade put up absorbent dikes” and navigation was suspended to prevent any scattering, said Environment Councillor Franky Demon.
“If the pollution were to spread to the canals, we would not be able to allow access to the bathing area there,” added the elected official. The pollution does not pose a risk to human health, however, according to Demon.
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The FPS Health and Environment is in charge of the clean-up, he added.
As for the origin of the pollution, “we assume that it is an accidental leak, probably from a boat. The federal navigation police have opened an investigation to determine the origin,” concluded the Bruges councillor.
