Oil slick from tanker reaches UAE beaches, forcing closures

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 11:31 · Archive

An oil slick from a damaged tanker in the Hormuz Strait has washed ashore in the United Arab Emirates, prompting beach closures.

An oil slick from a damaged tanker in the Hormuz Strait has reached UAE shores, forcing temporary beach closures across multiple northern emirates. The spill has prompted authorities in Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah to restrict public access to coastal areas whilst they assess the extent and movement of the oil.

Al Jazeera reports that a crude oil tanker struck an Iranian-laid naval mine near the Strait of Hormuz in early October. Independent World reports that experts believe the oil is coming from the Gem No.2, which was struck by an unidentified projectile in September and subsequently caught fire. Satellite images from the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites show the oil slick has widened over recent days, reaching close to the shores of Umm Al Quwain.

Nidal Hilal, Professor of Engineering and Director of New York University Abu Dhabi's Water Research Center, described the incident as a 'serious environmental concern', noting that more than 500 different species inhabit the Gulf waters, including dolphins and marine turtles. He said the temporary closure of beaches and coastal areas is a 'prudent precaution' whilst the spill's extent and movement are assessed.

How it is being reported

• Satellite images show huge oil spill from damaged tanker that triggered beach closures across UAEMore beaches have been temporarily closed to the public as an oil spill off the coast of the UAE widensIndependent World · 26 Oct, 11:17
• Oil slick from tanker in Hormuz Strait washes up on UAE beachesAn oil slick has been filmed washing up on the UAE shoreline, prompting authorities to close beaches in Umm Al Quwain.Al Jazeera · 25 Oct, 12:05

In this story: United Arab Emirates · Hormuz Strait · Umm Al Quwain · Ras Al Khaimah · Gem No.2 · Nidal Hilal

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem