Oil Spill from Stranded Tanker Reaches Central Oman Beaches

Muscat (ANTARA) - Oman’s Environment Authority stated on Wednesday that oil pollution from the vessel ‘Caroline Bezengi’, which ran aground off the coast of Dhofar Governorate in southern Oman, has reached several beaches in Ras Madrakah, on the central Omani coast. In a statement, the authority said monitoring devices, satellite imagery and modern modelling systems were used to track the spread of the oil spill and predict potentially affected areas. Specialised teams are taking steps to contain the movement of the pollution, with priority given to areas of high environmental sensitivity, the authority added. According to media reports, the ‘Caroline Bezengi’ has been grounded since June after the crew reported an explosion on board. On Monday, the authority said the oil spill from the stranded vessel had spread to cover an area of approximately 390 square kilometres, extending northeast from the Al Hallaniyat Islands towards the mainland coast.