Veracruz: Oil Spill Victims Complain Of Insufficient Action by State Government

ByIván Sánchez

This article by Iván Sánchez originally appeared in the March 8, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Residents of Pajapan, who live around the Ostion Lagoon, are demanding prompt intervention from the authorities to resolve the hydrocarbon spill in the southern part of the state of Veracruz.

They pointed out that their way of life has been affected, as the tar has reached the lagoon where they fish for their personal consumption and for the sale of some products.

They stated that the authorities have promised to solve this problem, however so far there has been no real response to the problem.

One of those affected said they would give the authorities a chance to prove they are true to their word and that support for those affected would be forthcoming, but warned that if this did not happen, the residents could take other measures.

“If they don’t take responsibility, we’re going to have to resort to other measures to get them to listen to us, (…) if the government doesn’t do it willingly, it’s going to have to be by force,” the fisherman commented.

The oil spill has affected fishing for family consumption by the residents of Pajapan, Veracruz.

Veracruz Government Doesn’t Know the Origin of the Spill

For her part, the Governor of the State of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle García, said that although a week has passed since the first sighting of crude oil on the Veracruz coast, they still do not know its origin.

A few days ago, the governor asserted that Pemex has no responsibility for the pollution of the beaches in the south of the state; however, this Sunday she assured that the search for the origin of the spilled hydrocarbon continues.

He noted that Pemex and other companies are conducting analyses in their oil field exploration projects to see if the contamination originates from there.

He added that Pemex is already working with residents of some areas to begin the cleanup efforts, despite residents of various beaches accusing the state-owned company of not showing up at the affected sites.

“Pemex and companies that are in exploration are checking where the spill is coming from, (…) Pemex and the residents agreed to clean it up,” he said.