Authorities are investigating the delayed response to a marine diesel spill that contaminated Quebrada El Cedro in Pitalito, leaving 140,000 people without drinking water for four days. The responsible company failed to address the emergency promptly, drawing criticism and potential environmental sanctions. The accident took place on November 3 in a rural area of the municipality.
On November 3, a tanker truck overturned in Vereda Villafátima, Bruselas township, in Pitalito, Huila, spilling marine diesel into Quebrada El Cedro. The accident, occurring around 9:30 a.m., involved 10,500 gallons, of which 9,445 were recovered, leaving 1,055 gallons spilled. This led to the suspension of the aqueduct service and a water shortage crisis for nearly 140,000 Laboyanos over four days.
The initial response faced criticism for its delay. Gilberto Rojas Sánchez, commander of the Pitalito Volunteer Fire Department, stated: “Sadly, the transport company's contingency arrived nine hours after the accident, that is, when the emergency had already been controlled.” The responsible company, Grupo Operativo Logística y Transporte S.A.S., did not respond, so Cootranskilili took over. Municipal ombudsman Yuli Constanza Silva Chávarro clarified: “The company that should have addressed the contingency never responded.”
The municipal contingency plan was activated to prevent the contaminant from reaching the Guachicos River, the main drinking water source. Local communities reported the incident ten minutes after it occurred, activating the Municipal Risk Management Council. The Corporación Autónoma Regional del Alto Magdalena (CAM), led by Camilo Augusto Agudelo Perdomo, launched an investigation into compliance with environmental regulations, including the lack of a registered contingency plan by the transporter.
Agudelo Perdomo explained that CAM arrived at the site within the first hour after the accident and is assessing sanctions under Law 1333 of 2009 and Law 2387 of 2024. It is also probing the company that loaded the fuel in Cartagena and the one that handled the emergency. Councilor Leonel Alvarado criticized the transporter's responsibility, stating that without rescue organizations, the situation would have been worse. Personnel will remain in the area for about 15 more days to clean residues, while contingency plans are updated and road regulation measures are evaluated.