MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil has collected 600 tons of oil from the spill along northeastern beaches

Oil has been washing up on the shores of northeastern Brazil for two months, but its origin has remained a mystery so far

Brazil has collected more 600 tons of oil from its northeastern beaches since Sept. 12, the government said, more than double an estimate of oil and sand collected by state-run oil company Petrobras.

Oil has been washing up on the shores of northeastern Brazil for two months, but its origin has remained a mystery so far. More than 200 locations along the coast have been affected, threatening marine life, authorities said.

On Monday, Petrobras said it had collected 280 tons of oil and sand from the beaches.

Brazil’s government has said the oil spill is Venezuelan in origin, but has mostly stopped short of blaming their socialist government for the incident. Venezuela has denied it is to blame.