Deadly floods in Mexico that killed 76 people caused a 5-mile-long oil spill that could impact the Gulf economy

Petroleus mexicanus, commonly known as PemexThe company said in a statement that its crews moved “immediately” to stop and contain the leak around the town of Alamo, one of the communities hardest hit by the recent floods.

The company did not say when the leak occurred or what exactly was spilled.

But Alamo resident Arturo De Luna said locals became aware of the matter over the weekend. “In all honesty, we are very concerned,” he said.

At least 76 people died due to torrential rains from October 6 to 11 in several states in central and eastern Mexico. About thirty communities remain missing, and more than 100 communities remain inaccessible by land.

The Alamo was with Poza Rica The most affected communities In the northern state of Veracruz. Residents in part of Poza Rica found the walls of their homes stained with oil after water receded from the Cazones River, although no leakage has been confirmed there.

The Bantepec River crosses northern Veracruz and provides water to a number of communities, including the city of Tuxpan near the river’s mouth in the Gulf of Mexico.

Tuxpan Mayor Jesús Fombiroza said on Facebook on Tuesday that Pemex, the Navy, security forces and Energy and Environment Agency staff were working with local and state officials to prevent the leak from reaching municipal water systems.

He said private companies, fishermen and others helped install containment barriers.

But the spill was affecting life along the river.

De Luna, an Alamo resident, said boat services used by locals to travel up and down the river have been suspended, isolating some river communities.

Alejandra Jimenez, an activist with the Chalche Foundation, an NGO focused on protecting water resources, said it was too early to determine the environmental impact of the spill, but that the ecosystem could take years to recover.

“The prevention phase did not happen, so now they have to prevent the spread of the disease,” she said.