A week after one was first spotted oil spill off the coast of Tobagoparts of it were moving in opposite directions towards the Caribbean, the island’s emergency management agency (TEMA) announced on Wednesday, putting neighboring countries on alert as well.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced that crews and volunteers are working to clean up the coast and contain the 12km oil spill emerging from a capsized vessel four miles off the coast of Tobago, but they have not yet been able to bring the situation fully under control.

Satellite images and models suggest that waves may carry some of the spill into the Caribbean beyond northern Venezuelaraising the risk that the oil could affect other beaches in Trinidad and Tobago that have coral reefs and even the coasts of other countries, TEMA director Allan Stewart told Reuters.

Venezuela’s foreign ministry said Wednesday on social media that the country is monitoring the spill and has begun meetings with the government of Trinidad to coordinate action.

Based on satellite images taken three days before the incident in the Caribbean Sea, the Trinidad Coast Guard has identified at least two vessels allegedly headed for Guyana – a tugboat and a barge – were involved in an incident that led to the spill, the Ministry of National Security said in a statement on Wednesday.

With information from Reuters