On April 7, 2020 in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Napo and Coca rivers turned dark with oil and fuel from three ruptured pipelines, producing the worst environmental disaster of the last 15 years. More than 15,000 gallons (almost 57,000 liters) spilled into the rivers, affecting 35,000 people directly and more than 120,000 indirectly, many of them Kichwa indigenous people from 105 communities.
I contacted Olger Gallo, president of the Kichwa community of Panduyaku. âWe see oil coming down the riverbed, help us report what is happening,â he said. âThe young people went out fishing in the early morning and when they returned their bodies were covered in oil. We need urgent help,â he told me.