Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state on Tuesday to avoid a crisis in the supply of fuel after the temporary closure of the Colonial pipeline, which suffered a cyber attack on May 7.

As a consequence, the supply of gasoline has been affected in several areas of the US, including parts of Northwest Florida,

Local media and users report that gas stations closed and long lines of cars have already been seen, as well as a considerable rise in prices, which have risen to $4 per gallon.

The Colonial Pipeline supplies fuel, including gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products, to much of the East Coast of the United States.

This company supplied 45% of the fuel consumed on the US east coast, so its departure causes a huge supply deficit.

At a press conference, DeSantis said his administration is monitoring the effects of the cyberattack and the impact it is having on the northern part of the state, while calling for greater involvement from the federal government.

By declaring a state of emergency, restrictions on the weight and size of fuel tanker trucks would be removed to allow more gasoline to reach the region.

The order also makes price speculation illegal.

“I think this is something that requires really serious federal attention. This was essentially a cyber attack on the critical infrastructure of our country,” said the Republican governor, and urged the Government to get fully involved to “mitigate” the effect of the attack, local media reported.

There are also fears that the gasoline shortage could cause damage to the region’s economy and the quality of life of its residents.

The US government admitted on Tuesday that it faces a crisis in the supply of fuel in certain areas after the cyberattack against the largest network of oil pipelines in the country, but clarified that there is no shortage of gasoline.

Experts have warned that if the stoppage of activities persists, fuel prices could reach levels not seen since the end of 2014.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) said the average price of gasoline stood at $ 2.98 this Tuesday, compared to 2.96 for the national average over the weekend.

Categorized in: