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Residents of Sooknanan Street in Marabella have been evacuated from the community as a hydrocarbon leak on Friday polluted the Marabella River and seeped into the fishing community of Marabella West.

By 3 a.m. yesterday, the Sunday Express was told that at least 57 residents whose homes line the watercourse left the area in buses to be temporarily housed at the nearby Royal Hotel while clean-up operations continued overnight.

HAMPERS DISTRIBUTED: Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal, fourth from right, distributes hampers to residents of New Haven Avenue, Marabella, affected by the oil spill, during a visit to the area yesterday. Looking on is Councillor for Marabella West John Michael Alibocus, third from left, and Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries Ernesto Kesar, second from left. —Photos: TREVOR WATSON