The rescue service was alerted about an oil leak in Kolbäcksån on Saturday afternoon, according to officials. Booms were laid out to limit the spread of the oil, and on Sunday, more booms were brought from Ludvika to cover the entire canal and improve oil recovery. The leak had stopped by Tuesday afternoon, but the oil returned on Wednesday morning, officials said.
Daily checks are being conducted to monitor if the oil spreads further downstream, with no downstream spread detected so far. The environmental unit from Avesta has been out searching and plans to use drones to see if something on the bottom is leaking, officials reported. Birdlife appears to have been affected by the oil spill, but the extent of the impact is not yet known.
The exact source of the spill and the total volume spilled remain undetermined, with no specific theories about the cause disclosed.