A diesel spill caused by an illegal tap on a RECOPE pipeline in Limón spread through local waterways between Thursday night and Friday morning, contaminating the stretch from Río Bartolo to the mouth of Río Moín and the coastal area next to the JAPDEVA terminal in Moín. RECOPE said rain helped carry the fuel quickly downstream and out toward the coast, widening the affected area.
Authorities said the illegal connection was found and the transfer of fuel was stopped, so the spill is no longer active at its source. The emergency response has now shifted to containment, cleanup and environmental remediation, with RECOPE crews warning that the work could take several days because of the scale of the spill and the difficulty of treating contamination across rivers and the coastal zone.
The incident has already prompted health and safety warnings for the public. Authorities told residents and visitors not to enter the water or approach visibly affected areas, and to suspend swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and other recreational activity in the impacted stretch. They also advised against consuming fish, shellfish, water or any other resources taken from the area until officials confirm conditions are safe.
For Limón, that makes the spill more than a pipeline crime story. The affected waterways feed into a part of the Caribbean coast used for beach visits, small-scale fishing and weekend recreation, and the official recommendation to avoid the water raises immediate concerns for nearby communities and businesses as cleanup continues. RECOPE also said the case shows how fuel theft can quickly turn into a public health and environmental problem, exposing residents and damaging aquatic ecosystems.
A later update from the Health Ministry said the spill was under control, that drinking water sources had not been affected after coordination with AyA, and that there was no reported impact to water for human consumption. The ministry also said the area remains under monitoring and that technical teams will continue evaluating the site while cleanup continues. The case is being handled with support from the OIJ.
The result is a messy and still developing environmental emergency on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. Even with the leak stopped, the spread of diesel through rivers and into the coastal area means the real work now is cleanup, monitoring and determining how much damage was done before the fuel was contained. Until authorities lift the warning, Limón’s message is simple: stay out of the water in the affected zone.
