Critical oil spill in Kerch Strait affects wildlife

The situation in the area where two Russian oil tankers encountered difficulties earlier this month is “critical,” according to the Kremlin. The tankers spilled approximately 3,700 tons of heavy fuel oil in the Kerch Strait, which is the sea passage between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, near the Crimean Bridge.

Oil has washed ashore along a 60-kilometer stretch of the Black Sea coast, from the Crimean Bridge to the Russian resort town of Anapa. Waterfowl have been contaminated with oil, and 21 dolphins have died due to the pollution.

Several towns in the region have declared a state of emergency. Volunteers are actively cleaning oil-covered birds.

A cleanup operation is underway, involving rescue workers and over 10,000 volunteers who have removed contaminated soil along the coast. Specialists are working to remove oil from the sea, and facilities have been set up to clean the oil-covered waterfowl.

The oil tankers were damaged during a storm, resulting in one crew member’s death, while 27 others were rescued. One of the tankers, the 136-meter-long Volgoneft 212, broke in two and sank during the storm.

Another tanker, the Volgoneft 239, was also damaged, leading to further oil spillage.

Source: NOS

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