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Worryingly, Peru's main pipeline has spilt at least 3,000 barrels of crude oil into the Amazon region. The Chiriaco and Morona rivers in the northwestern part of Brazil are polluted, while about eight indigenous communities here are dependent on the two rivers for their water sources, even as heavy rains here prevent the conservation efforts.

While a landslide caused the first rupture, according to Petroperu, the state-owned operator of the pipeline, it is not clear why the subsequent leakages took place, according to the BBC.

A water quality emergency in five districts close by the spill has been declared by Peru's health ministry. The national environmental regulator OEFA explains that Petroperu might be slapped with fines of up to 60m soles ($17 million U.S.) However, tests need to confirm whether the spills, occurring in late January and early February, are affecting the health of local communities or not.

"It's important to note that the spills... are not isolated cases. Similar emergencies have emerged as a result of defects in sections of the pipeline," was OEFA's statement.

Petroperu pledges that it would be involved in a complete cleanup and also offer food and water to affected communities. However, the damage has halted the transportation of up to 6,000 barrels of oil a day. It might take "some time" to resume operations, said the company president German Velasquez. He added that the company would evaluate the pipeline built in the 1970s so that he could prevent future spills.

This has happened with Petroperu's preparations to be part of oil production with a private partner, after it finished more than 20 years of "refining, commercializing and transporting" crude. The company hopes to put up to 49 percent of its actions on Lima's stock exchange.

Petroperu is also facing criticism over reports that it has paid children to clean up sludge. Even though Velasquez denies the charges, he is said to be thinking of firing company officials. One of them was probably involved in employing children.