An oil spill from a damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, satellite images showed, triggering more beach closures and raising environmental concerns, according to Reuters.
Images from the European Union’s Copernicus satellite observation network dated October 24 show the spill has widened over the last few days and is reaching close to the shores of the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain, with dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along its coastline.
The UAE said on Friday that efforts were under way to contain oil leaking from a tanker offshore, with its Ministry of Climate Change and Environment conducting an environmental assessment. All beaches and coastal areas around Umm Al Quwain were temporarily closed, Sharjah shut access to Al Hamriyah Beach as a precaution, and Ras Al Khaimah closed all its beaches on Saturday until further notice.
Authorities have not named the tanker involved or said what caused the spill. Experts told Reuters the spill was coming from a tanker called the Gem No.2, which shipping sources said had been struck by an unidentified projectile last month, causing a fire that was later extinguished.
The environment ministry said odours reported by residents in parts of Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain posed no health risks.
