Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Cyanide Spill Under Investigation

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

TEGUCIGALPA, Apr 6 2009 (IPS) - The Honduran Government Prosecutor's Office announced an exhaustive investigation into the causes of a cyanide spill in the Lara River, which supplies water to several communities in the western department of Copán. Aldo Santos, prosecutor for environmental issues, told Tierramérica that the spill may have been the result of an accident at Minosa, a mine in the area.

“We are investigating the causes due to the death of fishes and other probable impacts that the event may be causing in the region,” he said.

It is the second time that the mining company is faced with a claim of this type. Four years ago Minosa was fined more than 300,000 dollars for a similar problem.

In a statement, Minosa maintained that the spill was a “minor leak” and that everything is under control.