A state of emergency has been declared on the island of Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands, following a leak of three tonnes of diesel into the sea.

The fuel slick is threatening a number of beaches, as well as natural reserves and a desalination plant.

Emergency services said on  X social media that they were alerted on Wednesday night to the accidental spill during a vessel’s refuelling stop at La Luz port of Las Palmas, the island’s capital.

The cargo ship Akhisar was bunkering overnight when approximately three metric tonnes of Very Low Sulfur fuel was spilt into the harbour. 

The diesel leak has already reached Bocabarranco beach and is advancing at a rate of 0.5 nautical miles per hour.

It currently covers an area measuring 2.5 kilometres long and 400 metres wide.

The president of Gran Canaria’s governing council, Antonio Morales, said the slick was heading towards the neighbouring Telde municipality in the south.

Local officials closed the beaches of San Borondón, Palos, El Baranquillo and La Restinga in Telde as a precautionary measure.

They also sought to reassure the public, saying they were doing everything within their means to contain the spillage.

The Environmental Minister for Gran Canaria, Raúl García Brink, said: “We are fully prepared to collaborate and mobilise all available means to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.”

A helicopter along with drones have all been deployed in the fight to contain the leak.

The Spanish emergency service Salvamento Marítimo also said it dispatched three of its patrol boats to the scene.

Authorities are now concerned that the diesel spillage may contaminate water at the Jinámar desalination plant.

Mr Morales highlighted the seriousness of the situation, saying: “Our primary concern is the potential contamination of water production facilities.

“The Cabildo (council) will closely monitor the situation and take all necessary steps to mitigate the damage.”

Telde’s mayor Juan Antonio Pena demanded that those responsible for the spillage be held to account, claiming to Reuters that the leak was “preventable”.