Oil spill hits UAE beaches after tanker strike near Hormuz

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 16:50 · Archive

An oil spill from a tanker attacked near the Strait of Hormuz is spreading along the UAE coastline.

An oil tanker has been struck off the United Arab Emirates coast, causing an oil spill that is spreading along the coastline near the northern city of Umm Al Quwain. The Gem No.2, a Panamanian-flagged tanker, was damaged between 9 and 10 October during attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Satellite imagery shows the slick had spread more than 35 kilometres by Wednesday, with verified video from Friday showing oil washing ashore and colouring the water black.

The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment said it 'immediately began containment' to 'limit environmental impacts' and closed affected beaches. Many residents in the country's north have reported unusual oil-like smells in recent days, including in northern districts of Dubai. Roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Professor Steve Widdicombe, director of Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre in the UAE, told BBC Verify it was 'inevitable that there will be an impact', though researchers cautioned it is too soon to assess the extent of damage. Oil spills can cause immediate deaths of marine animals through physical trapping, smothering and gill damage, and can cause longer-lasting harm if species remain exposed to toxic compounds from the oil.

How it is being reported

• Oil spill washes up on UAE beaches after tanker strikeSatellite images show oil spreading for miles along the coastline, threatening local marine wildlifeBBC World · 23 Oct, 16:30
• Oil spill hits UAE beaches as tanker attacks multiply near HormuzThe UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change said teams were deployed to contain a spill affecting Umm Al Quwain’s beaches, days after a tanker was struck by a projectile off the UAE coast, causing a fire.Euronews · 23 Oct, 10:36

In this story: United Arab Emirates · Strait of Hormuz · Umm Al Quwain · Gem No.2 · Iran

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