On Wednesday, Krasnodar Region Governor Venyamin Kondratyyev announced that a region-wide state of emergency would be declared. The decision comes as oil spills continue to affect the coastline around Anapa and Temryuk, more than 10 days after two aging tankers ran aground in the Black Sea.
The source of the pollution is two tankers that were hit by a storm on December 15.
One ship split in two, while the other ran aground. As a result of the incident, a significant amount of oil entered the sea, which is now polluting the coast.
The governor informed about the situation via the Telegram messaging application:
Originally, according to the calculations of scientists and specialists, the main mass of the fuel oil should have remained at the bottom of the Black Sea, which would have allowed it to accumulate in the water. But the weather dictates its conditions, the air warms and oil products rise to the surface. As a result, they end up on our shores.
The pollution is seriously affecting the area around Anapa, which is a popular summer resort. THE oil covering sandy beaches poses a serious threat to marine life, especially birds and dolphins.
According to the crisis center established for remediation, more than 256 square kilometers of coastal areas have been examined so far, and 25 tons of oily-water sludge have been collected.
More than 10,000 people are involved in the rescue work.
The authorities are constantly monitoring the situation. The bow of the Volgoneft-239 tanker has been discovered underwater, and as soon as weather conditions permit, divers will check for further leaks of oil products.
Source: Reuters
Cover image credit: James L. Amos via Getty Images
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