Moscow:
Authorities in Russia’s Krasnodar region have declared a region-wide emergency due to ongoing oil pollution along the coastline, stemming from two tankers that encountered difficulties 10 days ago. The tankers were struck by a storm on Dec. 15, resulting in one vessel splitting in half and the other running aground.
The spill has affected sandy beaches in and around Anapa, a popular summer destination, posing significant challenges for local wildlife, including seabirds, dolphins, and porpoises. Efforts involving over 10,000 individuals are underway to address the pollution.
Governor Veniamin Kondratiev announced the region-wide emergency after observing continued oil contamination in the Anapa and Temryuk districts. Initially, it was believed that most of the fuel oil would remain at the seabed, allowing for containment efforts in the water. However, changing weather conditions have led to oil products resurfacing and washing ashore.
A crisis center managing the clean-up reported the discovery of the submerged bow of one tanker, the Volgoneft-239, with plans for divers to inspect for potential oil leaks once weather conditions permit. So far, over 256 square kilometers of coastal area have been surveyed, with 25 tons of oil-water sludge collected.
(This article has been generated through automated content rewriting and has not been altered by NDTV staff. It is sourced from a syndicated feed.)
