World · Middle East · 8 hrs ago
Oil spill from damaged tanker reaches UAE beaches
Oil from a damaged tanker has reached the UAE coast after the ship was struck near the Strait of Hormuz in October.
The spill has spread more than 35km from the tanker, and some beaches and coastal areas near Umm Al Quwain have closed.
The UAE environment ministry says it began containment efforts to limit damage.
The spill extends towards islands with coral, seagrass and habitats for threatened wildlife, including green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish.
Oil can harm or kill marine life, but the scale of environmental damage is not yet clear.
Researchers say the impact will depend partly on the oil and how effective the clean-up is.
An oil spill from a damaged tanker has reached beaches near Umm Al Quwain in the United Arab Emirates, prompting the closure of some beaches and coastal areas.
Satellite imagery showed the slick had spread more than 35km from the tanker by Wednesday.
The tanker, identified by BBC Verify as Gem No.2, was damaged in an attack near the Strait of Hormuz between 9 and 10 October.
The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it began containment efforts on Thursday.
Researchers said it is too soon to assess the environmental damage, but the spill extends toward a recognised biodiversity area.
- Who
- The UAE authorities and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment are responding to the spill. The tanker was identified as Gem No.2.
- What
- Oil from the damaged tanker has spread along the UAE coast and reached beaches.
- When
- The tanker was damaged between 9 and 10 October. Oil was reported washing ashore by Friday, 23 October.
- Where
- Beaches near Umm Al Quwain, on the UAE coastline.
- Why
- The spill followed damage to the tanker in an attack near the Strait of Hormuz. The reason for the attack is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gem No.2 was damaged near the Strait of Hormuz.
A small oil leak could be seen emerging from the ship.
Satellite images showed the beginnings of the spill.
Satellite imagery showed the slick had spread more than 35km from the tanker.
UAE authorities said the incident was affecting beaches near Umm Al Quwain and the ministry said it had begun containment.
Verified video showed oil washing ashore and colouring the water black.
- Tanker
- Gem No.2, a crude oil tanker
- Tanker flag
- Panama
- Spill distance
- More than 35km (22 miles) by Wednesday
- Affected area
- Beaches near Umm Al Quwain, UAE
- Crew
- All 22 Indian crew members were rescued
- Nearby biodiversity area
- Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands
3 sources
What people are saying
immediately began containment
limit environmental impacts
inevitable that there will be an impact