Muscat: Ecuador declared an environmental emergency due to an oil spill near Esmeraldas River in the northwestern coastal province of the country. According to Oman News Agency, Ecuadorian authorities reported that part of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) exploded in the El Vergel area near the Esmeraldas River, about 160 kilometers northwest of the capital, Quito. The explosion was attributed to landslides in the region, which recently experienced heavy rains. Petroecuador announced that efforts are underway to contain and recover the spilled oil but has not provided an estimate of the amount of crude oil involved. SOTE, described by Petroecuador as the engine of the country's economy, has a capacity of 360,000 barrels per day and stretches across 497.7 kilometers, covering the Amazon, Sierra, and Costa regions.