Oil Spill from Tanker Off Oman Rapidly Expands
An oil spill from the tanker Caroline Bezengi, which ran aground off Oman, has spread across more than 2,000 square kilometers, raising concerns over a major environmental disaster.
The oil spill from the tanker named Caroline Bezengi, which ran aground off the coast of Oman, is rapidly expanding. The tanker, carrying Russian crude oil, ran aground near Al-Qibliyyah Island, located within a marine protected area, on June 30.
It is estimated that the oil released from the tanker, which was carrying approximately 800,000 barrels of Russian crude oil, has reached an area of more than 2,000 square kilometers. The spill beginning to reach Oman’s mainland has also increased environmental risks in the region.
The area where the oil spill is located is an important habitat for numerous species, particularly sea turtles, humpback whales and coral reefs. The spill is reported to have expanded rapidly, especially since the beginning of August, growing several-fold within a short period.
Seasonal monsoon conditions are making access to the tanker and salvage operations more difficult, while barriers are being used to limit the spread of the oil. However, the tanker’s increasing structural damage is also making response efforts more difficult.
Experts emphasize that the tanker must be stabilized as soon as possible and that the remaining oil on board should be transferred to another tanker. They warn that if the response is delayed and the tanker breaks apart, up to 40–50 million gallons of oil could enter the sea, potentially turning the incident into one of the largest oil disasters in recent years.
