A major incident has been declared after about 200 barrels of reservoir fluid leaked into the water at Poole Harbour in Dorset.
The leak was caused by a pipeline at the nearby Wytch Farm refinery, the largest onshore oilfield in western Europe.
Poole Harbour Commissioners has activated its oil spill plan and the pipeline has been shut down, with booms placed on either side of the leak.
Anyone who has come into contact with the spill should wash immediately with soap and water. The agency said that if eyes have come into contact with the spill, they should be rinsed with water.
The area is a haven for wildlife and has been designated as a site of special scientific interest.
A major incident was declared due to an oil leak from Wytch Farm oilfield, according to Philip Broadhead, the leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council. All partner agencies are working together to make sure all measures are enacted. Broadhead said in a statement that the Wytch Farm oilfield in Purbecks is one of the largest onshore oilfields in Europe and is one of the largest onshore oilfields in Europe. We have been told by the operators that there has been a leak from the facility. We have been told that oil has escaped into the water and surrounding area, despite the fact that this has been contained.
As this situation unfolds, we are liaising closely as part of long-established mechanisms with a variety of parties.
As the leader of the council, I will be working to see what implications this leak may have and what action we may need to take.
It is extremely disappointing to hear of this event, and we need to focus on ensuring that we can mitigate any impacts of this situation.