Footage showing the spectacular moments of the launch of China's Shenzhou-19 crewed spaceship was released on Wednesday.
The spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off at 04:27 Wednesday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
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Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
About 10 minutes after the launch, the Shenzhou-19 spaceship separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. The crew members are in good shape and the launch is a complete success, the CMSA announced.
The Shenzhou-19 crew consists of mission commander Cai Xuzhe, and astronauts Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze.
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
Footage shows spectacular launch moments of Shenzhou-19
An oil spill in northwestern Ecuador is continuing to spread, causing an environmental crisis that is damaging the local ecosystem and impacting residents' lives.
The spill in the Canton Quininde area of Esmeraldas Province was caused by a landslide on Friday that ruptured a major oil pipeline, according to a statement from the State Petroleum Company of Ecuador.
Following the incident, Ecuadorian authorities declared an environmental emergency to minimize the damage and protect local residents' livelihoods.
Efforts to contain the spill are underway, but as of Monday, the spill has continued to spread.
An estimated 200,000 barrels of oil have been spilled so far, affecting an area of 50 kilometers and contaminating several rivers and even some coastal sea areas.
In addition, drinking water supplies to over 50,000 households in the affected area have been cut off due to the contamination. The ongoing oil spill has also led to widespread illness among locals, while fishermen have to suspend their activities.
"Children have been severely affected by the oil contamination, with a three-month-old infant having a fever. Our community is experiencing an outbreak of illness, with many people having sore throats. Fishermen have also been heavily impacted, as they are unable to go out to sea to fish," said Wilson Ganchile Tenorio, a local official.
Meanwhile, the oil spill has forced many beaches in Esmeraldas to close, severely disrupting local tourism.
"It affects a lot of people severely. It's not just us—everyone in the travel industry has been impacted. The situation is awful right now," said Luis Carlos Guanapatin, a local vendor.
Ecuador's ongoing oil spill worsens environmental crisis, impacts communities
