The United Arab Emirates shut more beaches after an oil spill in the Persian Gulf raised concerns over environmental and health impacts.
Sharjah said Al Hamriya Beach has been closed as a precautionary measure to prevent pollution from the oil spill. Ras Al Khaimah said that all its beaches are closed until further notice, without specifying the reason for the closure.
On Friday the UAE’s climate ministry detected the spill off the coast Umm Al Quwain, north of Dubai, and temporarily closed all beaches and coastal areas in the emirate. It didn’t identify the tanker.
Odors in Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah and Ajman don’t pose health risks to residents, the ministry said in a post on X.
Specialized teams and relevant authorities were dispatched to Sharjah to undertake necessary measures to ensure the safety of beaches and prevent pollutants from reaching them, the emirate’s media office said.
The region has suffered oil spills and leaks in recent months. In August, a tanker ran aground near Oman’s southeastern coast leaving the country to battle a slick covering about six-and-a-half times the land area of Manhattan. Shortly after, Iran was dealing with an oil spill off Qeshm Island, near a breeding ground for endangered hawksbill sea turtles.
Conflict in the region is also increasing the risk of oil spills and maritime pollution.
A cargo vessel sank in the Strait of Hormuz this month after a strike that sparked a fire, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said. Freighters struck by projectiles can leak ship fuel, even if the main oil storage tanks aren’t breached, endangering wildlife and marine environments.
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