Major Oil Spill Threatens Crimea’s Coastline

A massive oil spill from Russian tankers has prompted a regional emergency in Sevastopol, Crimea’s largest city, Associated Press reported.

The spill originated nearly three weeks ago when two tankers were damaged in the storm-prone Kerch Strait.

The spill originated nearly three weeks ago when two tankers were damaged in the storm-prone Kerch Strait, releasing 3,700 metric tons of oil into the Black Sea. The spill has now reached Sevastopol, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the initial incident site.

Regional Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev has declared an emergency, reporting oil contamination on four beaches.

“There is no mass pollution of the coastline in Sevastopol,” Razvozhaev wrote on Telegram, adding that the contamination was quickly addressed with the help of local authorities and volunteers.

Meanwhile, cleanup efforts continue in the Krasnodar region, where officials declared a state of emergency last week. Governor Veniamin Kondratyev confirmed that nearly 7,000 workers are still engaged in the cleanup operation.