Oil spill from grounded tanker reaches Oman's coast

Oil leaking from the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi has reached Oman's mainland, contaminating up to 40 km of coastline at Ras Madrakah, according to the country's Environment Authority. The spill, which began after an explosion in June, now covers an estimated 1,300 square kilometers, raising fears of a major ecological disaster in the Arabian Sea. Source: AP News Source: CNN

The spill

The Caroline Bezengi, a sanctioned vessel believed to be part of Russia's "shadow fleet," ran aground off Qabiliyah Island after reporting an explosion on June 8. It was carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil. Satellite images show the slick spreading rapidly due to monsoon winds, affecting a marine protected area that includes coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and habitats for endangered turtles and the rare Arabian Sea humpback whale. Source: AP News Source: Al Jazeera

Response and concerns

A British firm, Ambrey, has been hired to salvage the tanker and contain the spill, but operations are hampered by the Khareef monsoon. Greenpeace warns that the spill could become one of the world's worst, with oil reaching shorelines where it can contaminate sediments for years. Source: CNN Source: AP News

Disagreements

Sources differ on the spill's size: Omani authorities estimate it at nearly 400 square kilometers, while Greenpeace and other experts say it exceeds 2,000 square kilometers. Source: Al Jazeera Source: CNN