An oil spill in northwestern Ecuador is continuing to spread, causing an environmental crisis that is damaging the local ecosystem and impacting residents' lives.
The spill in the Canton Quininde area of Esmeraldas Province was caused by a landslide on Friday that ruptured a major oil pipeline, according to a statement from the State Petroleum Company of Ecuador.
Following the incident, Ecuadorian authorities declared an environmental emergency to minimize the damage and protect local residents' livelihoods.
Efforts to contain the spill are underway, but as of Monday, the spill has continued to spread.
An estimated 200,000 barrels of oil have been spilled so far, affecting an area of 50 kilometers and contaminating several rivers and even some coastal sea areas.
In addition, drinking water supplies to over 50,000 households in the affected area have been cut off due to the contamination. The ongoing oil spill has also led to widespread illness among locals, while fishermen have to suspend their activities.
"Children have been severely affected by the oil contamination, with a three-month-old infant having a fever. Our community is experiencing an outbreak of illness, with many people having sore throats. Fishermen have also been heavily impacted, as they are unable to go out to sea to fish," said Wilson Ganchile Tenorio, a local official.
Meanwhile, the oil spill has forced many beaches in Esmeraldas to close, severely disrupting local tourism.
"It affects a lot of people severely. It's not just us—everyone in the travel industry has been impacted. The situation is awful right now," said Luis Carlos Guanapatin, a local vendor.
Ecuador's ongoing oil spill worsens environmental crisis, impacts communities
Ecuador's ongoing oil spill worsens environmental crisis, impacts communities
The Italian capital Rome, one of the world's most famous tourism destinations, is looking to live up to its nickname of the "Eternal City" by doubling down on efforts to protect and promote its historical sites as visitor numbers rise.
The city welcomed a record number of 22.9 million tourist arrivals last year as its popularity as a premier tourism spot continued to climb. But as more and more people flock to Rome's landmark sites, authorities are taking steps to keep things under control.
Visitors hoping to get up close to the city's 264-year-old Trevi Fountain, a masterpiece of Roman Baroque architecture and one of the world's most famous landmarks, must now pay a small fee after Rome Council introduced a 2-euro entry price to access the fountain's lower basin
"During February, we had around 230,000 tickets sold. This system guarantees a much more orderly access for tourists," said Giorgio Trabucco, vice president of the Rome Tourism Commission.
The measure was brought in to combat overcrowding, and also follows a series of incidents involving tourists sitting, eating, and even jumping into the historic waters.
"It's clear there have been episodes of disrespect. It's a difficult challenge, but our administration, with interventions like this – managing tourism not limiting it – is an added value for our city," said Trabucco.
The funds raised by the entrance tickets will go towards security, cleaning and maintenance of the ancient site, and while some tourists are annoyed at having to fork out, the majority believe it's money well spent.
"I would pay 2 euros, it's not breaking the bank and it's lovely to see," said a tourist.
Meanwhile, at the newly-upgraded Colosseum Metro Station, history is very much part of the journey, with ancient artifacts which were uncovered during the subway line's construction on display to the public for free.
It points to the fine balancing act facing city management, as it looks to preserve its cultural heritage while also keeping it open to everyone.
Paolo Aielli, head of Rome's public transport company ATAC, said conserving the past while building for the future depends on close cooperation across different interest groups.
"(We have adopted a very co-operative model) because we have the responsibility in terms of engineering but at the same time we have a very important interaction with the archaeological authority," he said.
The new "museum station" -- which opened late last year -- is part of Rome's expanding rail network, and has quickly become an attraction in its own right. According to Aielli, the station received more than 1 million visitors in its first month.
For now, officials say there are no plans to introduce fees at other major sites, though the option remains on the table as tourism continues to rise.
Rome steps up efforts to protect historical sites amid tourism boom
