Massive oil spill occurred in the Hormuz area. There is a threat of ecological disaster
Two large oil slicks have been detected in the Persian Gulf near the Iranian islands of Qeshm and Sirri. The spills occurred amidst attacks on tankers and other vessels and could lead to serious consequences for the marine ecosystem. The pollution could also affect the coast of Oman, Reuters reports .
Illustrative image. Photo: Getty Images
Satellite images and videos show significant traces of oil in the waters. One of the spills is located near the southern part of Qeshm Island. Satellite images show dark liquid that has already reached the coast of Suz beaches on the island.
A second oil slick was discovered near Sirri Island, approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Qeshm. Oil and gas are extracted from Iran's offshore shelf in this area.
According to one theory, the pollution near Qeshm could be linked to a leak from the vessel Minoan Pioneer, which was sailing under the Liberian flag and carrying dry cargo. On August 3, the vessel was damaged by an unknown projectile off the coast of Oman. According to sources in maritime security, this could have been an Iranian attack during its passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The exact cause of the spills has not yet been established. It has also not been possible to independently confirm their origin, nor the exact composition of the substances in the slicks.
A separate large spill has been recorded off the coast of Oman, outside the Strait of Hormuz. There, the tanker Caroline Bezengi ran aground, causing Russian crude oil to leak into the sea. According to the information provided in the material, the oil slick covers about 2 thousand square kilometers and is located in a protected marine area.
Experts warn that the longer oil remains in the environment, the further it can spread and the greater harm it poses to marine ecosystems and coastlines.
The situation is complicated by the military conflict in the region. It hinders specialists from timely assessing the extent of the pollution and carrying out work to mitigate the consequences.