The emergency triggered by an oil
spill near the Ligurian port city of Genoa earlier this month is
"over" but the "environmental disaster remains", Environment
Minister Gianluca Galletti said on Tuesday.
"The emergency phase is over: we will assess the damage and
prepare an (environmental) recovery programme for the affected
areas," Galletti said.
"I want to avoid triumphalism but actions so far have
produced positive results, thanks to good team work, but we
mustn't stop, the environmental disaster remains," he continued.
"Today the most difficult task of recovery begins."
The accident occurred following a break in a pipeline
carrying oil from the Busalla refinery operated by IPLOM in
April 18.
On Monday the local port authority revoked the local state
of emergency introduced immediately after the spill.
However, environmental and wildlife organisations say it
has put many animals' lives at risk.
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