Oil leak in Peru tourist zone triggers 'environmental emergency'

A picture released by the NGO Coast 2 Coast Movement shows workers cleaning up Peru's Las Capullanas beach after an oil spill.

Peru has declared an “environmental emergency” after an oil spill that triggered a clean-up operation on a stretch of northern coastline popular with tourists.

The emergency measure will be in effect for at least 90 days
The leak was detected last Friday on Las Capullanas beach when the crude oil was about to be loaded onto a tanker
The public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation against Petroperu for the alleged crime of environmental contamination.