Written by: Basant El-Farmawy
The relevant authorities in the United Arab Emirates announced the detection of marine pollution resulting from an oil spill from a marine tanker, which led to its effects reaching the shores of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. The technical monitoring and environmental assessment system explained that it was able to locate the pollution and track its spread, while technical teams continue to assess the extent of the damage resulting from the marine incident.
The spill caused strong oil odors that were felt by residents of the Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain over the past few hours. The competent authorities confirmed that these odors do not pose any direct health risks to residents in those areas. As part of precautionary measures, local authorities in Umm Al Quwain decided to temporarily close all beaches and coastal areas to the public to ensure public safety.
Specialized teams are conducting comprehensive surveys of the affected areas to determine the geographical scope of the oil slick and develop an effective action plan to contain it. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is working in intensive coordination with all relevant authorities to use specialized equipment to encircle the affected areas and limit their spread in territorial waters.
Cleanup and treatment teams are carrying out field work to remove oil residues from beaches and shallow waters to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity. Beach closures will continue until cleanup is completed and it is ensured that the water and air are free of any pollutants, while investigations continue to find out the circumstances of the incident and the identity of the tanker that caused it.
