California oil pipeline ruptures, leaks into ocean

An oil slick is seen along the coast of Refugio State Beach in Goleta, California, United States, on May 19, 2015. 

PHOTO: REUTERS

MAY 20, 201512:58 PM

[LOS ANGELES] An oil pipeline ruptured on Tuesday dumping oil into the Pacific Ocean near Santa Barbara, California, the US Coast Guard said.

The pipeline runs along a coastal highway, and its leak sullied waters at Refugio State Beach, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Andrea Anderson.

The leak - which began around midday -- affected a pipeline operated by Plains All America Pipeline, which was able to address the issue completely by 3:00 pm, the Coast Guard said.

Specially trained cleanup crews tackled the spill. In addition to the Coast Guard, California emergency services and Fish and Wildlife staff were on the scene as well as ExxonMobil representatives, the Coast Guard said.

Exxon has operations near the pipeline.

The spill was estimated at 80,000 liters of oil, local media reported.

AFP