Ecuador Declares Environmental Emergency Due to Oil Spill Near Esmeraldas River Quito, 17 Mar (ONA) --- Ecuador declared an environmental emergency due to an oil spill near Esmeraldas River in the northwestern coastal province of the country. Ecuadorian authorities said that part of the Trans-Ecuadorian Pipeline System (SOTE) exploded in the El Vergel area near the Esmeraldas River, about 160 kilometers northwest of the capital, Quito. Authorities ...