Oil pollution closes beaches in three emirates

Beaches in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Sharjah-all in the United Arab Emirates-have been closed due to oil pollution. Authorities suspect the oil originated from an oil tanker damaged amid the conflict between Iran and the United States. The Ministry of Environment in Abu Dhabi announced the measure on Sunday, according to the news agency dpa.

Researcher Wim Zwijnenburg, an environmental specialist at the Dutch peace organization PAX, claims that the oil reaching the Emirati beaches comes from the Gem No. 2, a tanker flying the Panamanian flag and owned by a Taiwanese company.

The 330-meter-long vessel was reportedly attacked about two weeks ago. The British maritime agency UKMTO reported the incident, stating that a projectile struck the tanker and ignited a fire on board. According to Zwijnenburg, the resulting oil slick has reached a length of approximately 90 kilometers.

Authorities have announced that operations are underway to contain the spill and clean up the affected areas.

• Marine habitats exposed to pollution

The pollution threatens significant marine ecosystems in the Persian Gulf. The affected waters are home to dugongs, dolphins, and sea turtles, while coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows provide shelter and food for numerous species of birds and animals.

Several residents of Sharjah have reported that the smell of oil or gas has been noticeable for several days. The Ministry of the Environment, however, insisted that, according to its assessment, there is no danger to public health.

The incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing pollution in the Persian Gulf, which began in February with the outbreak of war between Iran, on one side, and the United States and Israel, on the other. The closure of the beaches is a precautionary measure while authorities work to contain the effects of the oil spill and clean up the affected coastline.