Oil spills into a river in northern Colombia after landslides caused by heavy rains damaged pipelines.
Thousands of residents living around the city of Cucuta - about 350 miles northeast of Bogota - had their drinking water supply cut, as workers desperately tried to stop the oil from spreading.
The spill occurred in the Iscala tributary, which leads to the Pamplonita River, where reservoirs contain the city's vital stores of fresh water.
A Disaster Prevention Office official explains that authorities have decided to close nearby aqueducts.
(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ALDEMAR GARCIA, DIRECTOR OF THE DISASTER PREVENTION OFFICE, SAYING:
"At 10:35 in the morning the Cano-Limon Covenas oil pipeline suffered a rupture and its contents spilled into the Iscala River, which connects to the Pamplona River. As a a preventative measure, we ordered the closing of the inlets of the aqueduct in Los Patios and Cucuta."
It's believed severe weather brought on the landslide which smashed through the oil pipes - destroying them.
Fresh water is now being delivered to the area in tanks, and priority is being given to hospitals and health centres.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
