During the early morning of 2nd July 2021, a 12-inch gas pipeline that runs beneath the Gulf of Mexico ruptured, leaking gas into the ocean. The gas leak sparked a fire, which quickly turned into an astonishing sight: a ring of fire in the middle of the ocean.
The pipeline is owned by Pemex, a Mexican oil monopoly. At around 11 am, the company resumed pumping gas through the pipeline. While it is laudable that they were able to repair the situation swiftly, it’s very alarming that the pipeline was up and running so quickly, as another fire could easily happen again.
The Gulf of Mexico, home to quite a few endangered species, was polluted with fossil fuels for hours. The company stated that things were under control about five hours later with no injuries reported, but the impact on the ocean and the environment could be far-reaching and devastating.
Pipelines are bad for the environment and wildlife in many ways. Pipeline leaks and ruptures are a common occurrence, due to insufficient regulation. Gas pipeline explosions happen without warning and are extremely dangerous, often resulting in numerous casualties. When oil leaks from a pipeline, it pollutes the water and damages entire ecosystems, causing health and environmental issues to humans and wildlife alike.
Many environmental organisations took this moment to point out the dangers of the fossil fuel industry and called for a shift to renewable energy. To end this climate crisis, we need major governments to order corporations to regulate polluting activities, and that starts with keeping the oil and gas in the ground.
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