Tanker strike sends 35km oil slick to UAE beaches
Authorities in the UAE have closed coastal areas as a spill from the Gem No.2 tanker spreads from the Strait of Hormuz.
By Diego Ross ·
Crude oil from a tanker hit near the Strait of Hormuz has reached the coast of the United Arab Emirates, prompting the closure of beaches in the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain. The spill originated from the Panama-flagged vessel Gem No.2, which was struck by an unknown projectile on October 9 just north of the town of Al Jazeera Al Hamra.
Satellite imagery captured on Monday showed the initial leak, but by Wednesday the slick had expanded to cover more than 35 kilometers of water. Radar data reviewed by BBC Verify and the intelligence firm MAIAR indicates the spill grew rapidly over two days after a smaller leak was detected on October 19. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment stated on Thursday that it had immediately begun containment efforts to limit environmental damage.
Video verified on Friday shows black oil washing ashore near Umm Al Quwain. Professor Steve Widdicombe, director of the Sharjah Marine Science Research Centre, told BBC Verify that an impact on marine life is inevitable. He noted that spills can kill animals quickly by trapping turtles or smothering seabirds, while longer-term exposure to toxic compounds may impair the reproductive capabilities of various species.
The expanding slick is moving toward Siniyah and Khor Al Beidah islands, a designated Key Biodiversity Area. These islands support habitats including corals, seagrasses, and saltmarshes, and serve as a home for green turtles and the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish. Eoghan Darbyshire, a scientist at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, described the proximity of the spill to this sensitive zone as the most concerning environmental aspect of the incident.
Footage released on social media on October 10 showed crew members evacuating the deck of the burning ship. Iranian state media described the vessel as attempting to exit the strait via an unauthorized route. The Indian consulate in Dubai confirmed on October 11 that all 22 Indian crew members had been rescued. Security experts indicated the attack was part of an Iranian strategy to assert control over the waterway amid increased US military escorts for commercial traffic.
This incident follows a similar event in August when a large oil slick reached the shores of Qeshm Island in Iran. That previous spill threatened local wildlife, protected ecosystems, and fishing communities, setting a precedent for the current environmental risk facing the UAE coast.
Source: BBC News
