[UPDATED] Oil spill causes traffic jam on Wrightson Road

AN oil spill caused by a leaking tanker led to a massive traffic pile-up on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, early on Wednesday afternoon. A clean-up effort led by the Fire Services caused the temporary closure of the road's east-bound lane in the vicinity of Ana Street.

The clean-up was completed and the lane was reopened to traffic by 5.30 pm.

The incident was initially announced on social media by the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODPM) which urged commuters to use alternative routes.

"Persons heading east may avoid Wrightson Road by turning left on to Hamilton Holder Street or Petra Street, then proceeding on to Ariapita Avenue or the Western Main Road," it had said.

Police and emergency services also responded to the incident.

Acting Fire Sub Station Officer Thomas, attached to the Fire Services Headquarters on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain, spoke to Newsday at the scene.

He said, at around 1 pm, oil leaked from a tanker for "the entire length of the area" from Ana Street to Luis Street on the east-bound lane of Wrightson Road.

"Additionally, we had to source absorbent from the ODPM and wash down the roadway with foam and then apply it (the absorbent)."

Contacted for clarification, a TT National Petroleum Marketing Company (NP) official told Newsday the tanker did not belong to the company.

Newsday was, up to press time, unable to confirm which company the tanker belonged to.

Calls to the ODPM and the Environmental Management Authority have, so far, gone unanswered.