Fuel Spill Threatens Salmon Habitat in Washington State, U.S.

On July 18, a tanker truck overturned on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, spilling about 11,000 liters of fuel oil into a nearby river, potentially causing long-term damage to the spawning grounds of endangered salmon. The accident resulted in highway closures, environmental authorities have initiated an ecological assessment, and health authorities have warned residents about the health risks associated with fuel evaporation. The incident highlights the transboundary impacts of land transportation accidents on marine ecology, in particular the threat to migratory fish species that depend on clean water.