Mexico finds possible traces of oil spill on Gulf of Mexico beach

Officials from the Civil Protection Agency were quoted as saying that they had found solid lumps of crude along Miramar close to Ciudad Madero, one of the state's most famous tourist beaches.

The state authorities said they were investigating the source of the hydrocarbons and then will stay in touch with central government authorities on the matter.

Local residents were also quoted as saying that they had found at least 15 solid lumps of dark oil matter each about 25 cm in diameter.

Earlier this week, local officials said there had already been an impact on fish and birds that passed through the Gulf of Mexico.

Salvador Trevino Garza, head of the state's environmental protection agency for sustainable development, said officials were actively monitoring the problem.

The oil spill began on April 20 when BP Plc's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded that killed 11 workers and blew out the well that has spewed millions of gallons of oil into the gulf.

BP estimated a flow rate of 100,000 barrels per day for the spill, which reached the Louisiana coast on May 23, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com