Contamination after Typhoon Halong threatens subsistence, drinking water in Alaska village

Contamination from oil, sewage and debris is threatening subsistence resources and drinking water in Kipnuk, Alaska, after Typhoon Halong devastated the community in October, according to ICT. About 90% of the village was damaged and more than 1,600 people were evacuated across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, making it the largest mass evacuation in Alaska’s history. Cleanup crews working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation found roughly 120 damaged heating oil tanks and widespread pollution across the tundra and waterways, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

The contamination has raised concerns for residents who rely on hunting, gathering and natural water sources. Floodwaters spread oil, sewage and debris across the tundra and into lakes used for drinking water, according to ICT. Cleanup crews began siphoning oil from damaged tanks, but efforts paused for winter as frozen waterways prevented transporting contaminated materials. Officials said the full scope of damage and cleanup timeline will be reassessed after the spring thaw.