Chile opens probe into southern coast oil spill

Chilean prosecutors opened an investigation into an oil spill that affected the coast of Aysén region earlier this month, where around 1,000 liters polluted a bay earlier this week.

The event took place near a pier operated by Emporcha in the town of Puerto Chacabuco in southern Chile on Monday, the Aysén regional prosecutor's office stated in a release.

The environmental felony brigade of national investigative police force PDI was called to the scene to probe the causes of the spill and determine possible felony charges under the country’s fishing law. 

That law stipulates a prison term of up to five years and a maximum fine of 10,000 UTM (monthly tax units, US$700,000) in cases of pollution.

A naval officer said earlier this week that the spill came from a factory ship owned by local fishing firm Pesca Chile.