A large-scale oil spill in the Persian Gulf is rapidly turning into one of the most serious incidents to occur in the world in recent years.
Sea-news.az reports that, according to data from international agencies, satellite imagery, and environmental groups, the oil spill has spread almost uncontrolled for several weeks.
Reuters writes that, according to information from the UN shipping agency, an oil slick off the coast of Oman, caused by the grounding of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Caroline Bezengi on Wednesday, has reached the country’s mainland.
According to John Amos, an oil spill specialist who analyzed satellite imagery obtained by the agency, the oil slick currently covers an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers.
The Caroline Bezengi tanker, carrying approximately 800,000 barrels of Russian oil and subject to international sanctions, ran aground near an Omani island on June 30. The vessel first reported facing difficulties off the coast of Yemen on June 8. According to sources, an explosion occurred on board the Caroline Bezengi tanker.
The IOPC Funds, an intergovernmental agency dealing with compensation issues related to oil spills from tankers, told Reuters that it will not cover the costs of cleanup operations. The reason for this is that the incident is classified not as an ordinary accident, but as an “act of war.”
According to Amos, in such a case, the tanker will continue to disintegrate under the continuous influence of wind and waves, losing its entire cargo, which could lead to the spread of 40 to 50 million gallons of oil.
