Oman reported the creation of a large oil slick on its coasts following damage to an oil tanker.

🔸 The Omani government announced on Monday, 19 Mordad, that an oil slick with an area of about 390 square kilometers had formed in the coastal waters of this country; the spill occurred after an oil tanker under sanctions that was carrying Russian crude oil was damaged.

🔸 Two maritime security sources said the crew of the oil tanker “Carolyn Bzengi” first reported problems on June 8 (18 Khordad), near the port of Mukalla in southern Yemen. According to these sources, initial assessments suggested that an explosion occurred inside the tanker.

🔸 On Monday, for the first time, Oman released details about the environmental scope of the incident and said it was working to contain the oil spill in its waters near the Hallaniyat islands, off the coast of the Dhofar province in the south of the country.

🔸 The Oman Environment Agency, in a statement published by the country’s state news agency, said that based on the latest assessments, which also include satellite images, the oil slick has an area of about 390 square kilometers.

🔸 The agency said the oil slick extends from the northeast of the islands toward the mainland of Oman, and its nearest point is about seven kilometers from the coast.

🔸 A Reuters analysis of satellite images and information from shipping experts showed that the oil leak from the “Carolyn Bzengi” tanker, which is 274 meters long and had been stuck in waters, was still expanding as of the end of last month, raising concerns about possible environmental damage.

🔸 The cause of the tanker’s damage is not yet known, and Oman has not provided an explanation for the incident.

🔸 Read the full report on the Radio Farda website.