Oil spills pollute Trinidad beaches

Five separate oil spills along Trinidad and Tobago's southwest coast have been threatening residents and marine life since Dec. 17, with sabotage suspected, local media reported Sunday.

The state-owned fuel company Petrotrin has evacuated residents from the impoverished fishing communities that line the coast in the area as crews worked to clean up the spills.

Fumes from the oil have caused nausea and headaches among residents, with 25 treated at hospital, according to media reports.

Petrotrin has launched an investigation.

"At the moment we cannot blame anyone, but the nature of it indicates there may be sabotage," Petrotrin president Persad-Bissessar told media in a press conference Saturday.

The government has formed an advisory committee to oversee the situation.

Located off the northern edge of South America near Venezuela and Grenada, the island country's economy depends largely on oil and petrochemicals.