A major fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait has resulted in a massive contamination of the Black Sea coastline in Russia's Krasnodar region. The incident, involving two oil tankers that ran aground during a storm, has raised serious concerns about an impending environmental disaster.
Dozens of kilometers of Black Sea coastline in Russia's Krasnodar region have been covered in heavy fuel oil, local authorities and residents reported on December 17, after two oil tankers were heavily damaged during a storm in the Kerch Strait. Regional Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said cleanup crews were being dispatched to the area as high winds helped spread large amounts of spilled oil along the coastline, raising concerns of an impending environmental disaster in the Black Sea .
Social media photos and video showed wildlife covered in dark liquid, the result of the December 15 incident involving two Volgoneft tankers that were carrying thousands of tons of mazut -- low-quality heavy fuel oil. The vessels reportedly ran aground in the ecologically sensitive waters off Ukraine's Moscow-annexed Crimean coastline. One of the tankers reportedly capsized and split into two during a severe storm. Waves as high as 3-4 meters, considered dangerous for such vessels, are believed to have caused the accident. Reports of environmental degradation are mounting as more and more oil spreads across the sea and onto shores that are summer havens for families. Local residents painted a dire picture of the shoreline, noting oil-covered birds that cannot fly and stray dogs covered in fuel oil roaming the shore. They also noted the strong scent of oil in the air with many residents complaining of nausea and skin and eye irritations. Almost 300 people, including volunteers and heavy equipment, are working to minimize the consequences of the accident, officials said. Two municipalities have organized operational headquarters for cleaning. Environmentalists, however, warn that the spill's size may already be too big to handle. The chairman of the region's maritime trade unions, Leonid Glushak, told the Kedr website that the overwhelming majority of the fuel oil has already seeped into the sea, exacerbating the eco-catastrophe
OIL SPILL BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER KRASNODAR KERCH STRAIT
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Storm-hit Russian petroleum tankers trigger fears of fuel spills in Black SeaOne vessel’s prow breaks off and another craft runs aground in Kerch Strait off Crimea
Read more »
Thousands could be still eligible for fuel help after Winter Fuel Payment axeThe Winter Fuel Payment was scrapped for millions of pensioners in but there are other schemes available to help with heating costs
Read more »
Two Russian Oil Tankers Spill Oil Into Black Sea After Running AgroundTwo Russian oil tankers believed to have drifted before running aground offshore have spilt oil in the Black Sea in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from Crimea.
Read more »
Why winter fuel cut U-turn demands are growing from poverty to rising fuel costsCharities have said rising energy bills and a cut to the winter fuel payment risk the wellbeing of thousands of pensioners
Read more »
Black Sea: At least one person dead after severely damaged Russian tankers cause oil spillA video shot from inside one of the vessels appears to show part of a tanker ripped from the body of the craft, and sinking down into the water.
Read more »
Putin's Black Sea Fleet Continually 'Undermined' By Ukrainian Attacks, UK SaysKate is a political correspondent at HuffPost UK. She has worked in the national news since she became a qualified journalist and was previously a reporter with Express.co.uk
Read more »