A deadly collision on the Amazon River early Friday morning has left two crew members dead and one missing after a Peruvian navy ship struck an oil platform near the northern town of Iquitos.
The incident happened where the Napo River meets the Amazon, a remote but heavily trafficked area used for both commercial and military navigation.
The vessel involved, known as the Ucayali, was carrying 33 personnel at the time. Rescue teams managed to save 30 of them, while search operations involving helicopters and specialized divers continue for the missing person. The Peruvian defence ministry confirmed the fatalities and promised support for the victims’ families.
Authorities are now trying to determine how the ship came to hit the platform, which is operated by the Anglo-French energy firm Perenco. There has been no official word yet on whether the platform itself was damaged or if oil spilled into the river. However, given the platform’s location and purpose, environmental concerns are growing quickly.
The Amazon region is dotted with oil and gas operations stretching across Peru, Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. Past incidents have shown how vulnerable the ecosystem is to oil leaks, with local wildlife and indigenous communities often bearing the brunt of contamination. Although no spill has been confirmed in this case, the risk remains serious.
This is not the first time Peru has faced a major oil-related disaster. In 2022, nearly 12,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Pacific Ocean after a tanker was rocked by waves triggered by a volcanic eruption in Tonga. That incident led to massive environmental damage along the coast.
As investigations move forward, both the navy and environmental agencies are expected to assess the full scope of the crash. Meanwhile, locals and conservationists are keeping a close eye on the river, hoping that this tragedy does not evolve into another ecological crisis.